Inside The Edge
About
The Executive Chair
The one question you always want to ask a successful person in a senior leadership role is “How did you get there?” In developing your own career, you learn more from hearing what worked – and didn’t work – from senior leaders and hearing their wisdom than from any other source.
We are embarking on a series of interviews with leaders who exemplify success for us. In their words are insights that can give you direction for moving your own career forward.
To read a summary, written by Michael DeVenney, of the past 12 interviews this year - click here.
| Al MacPhee - Hard Work, Dedication, and Community Investment |
Bluteau DeVenney and Company (BDCO): What did you do to move to a leadership role?Al MacPhee (AM) When I started selling automobiles I saw that, with a lot of hard work, it was something you could master. I learned that there are some people who make a career out of selling cars, and others who use it as a stepping stone to something else. You can go work at a bank and move your way up, but you can't buy the bank. I began to think that selling cars was a business that I could own, if I really worked hard. So I learned the fundamentals of meeting people, determining their needs, and supplying them with what they required to meet those needs. I learned that the brand didn't matter as much as the relationship you built with your customers. Once I was successful at the business I looked at how much I could produce on my own and thought that if I could get 10 or 15 people under me to achieve the same amount then I could probably make a business out of it. So that's what I did. General Motors had a Motors Holding Dealership Investment Plan in which they would loan the money to a candidate who they felt could successfully run a dealership. All I was responsible for was a 20 percent down payment. I gradually paid them back the remaining 80 percent over the years, of course, and that is how I got where I am today. (BDCO): What is one thing that developing professionals need to do more of?(AM): They need to use their leadership roles to not only help themselves, but more importantly help those around them. You really need to become a part of your community. If you just happen to have the skill and capacity to run the community Christmas parade, or whatever it might be to enhance that community, do it. By doing that you are not gloating, but you are setting yourself apart and showing others that you are there to make a living, grow your business, and build a better community. In return, your community will make your business better.
(BDCO): What about doing less of?(AM): They have to learn that although it is great to have the biggest yacht or the biggest car, these personal items do not endear you to the community like having the biggest heart. As I mentioned, it is your community that helps your business succeed. (BDCO): What experience helped you the most in your career and why?Well at one time General Motors had good leaders. They also had the leading product. They once sold 50 percent of all automobiles in Canada and the United States. That meant somewhere along the way there was leadership. Unfortunately they soon had too many people, union contracts got too heavy, management thought they deserved more, and they ended up just grounding the company to a halt. That being said, I did see leaders that helped me along the way. Many of the automobile manufacturers had good leaders, and leaders who recognized that this frivolous spending could not go on. These people taught me that life isn't all about planning your next vacation. Life is about asking yourself what the overall mission is and how are you going to complete it. (BDCO): What was the greatest challenge moving your career forward?(AM): Getting money to build my business was my greatest challenge. Banks can be very helpful when you are already successful, but they can't loan you money on a hunch. I was lucky enough to get over this hurdle by taking advantage of General Motors' Motors Holding Dealership Investment Plan. Of course I still had to come up with the 20 percent down payment, which was a struggle and a sacrifice on its own, but in the end it worked out for me. (BDCO): What is the greatest strength of your approach to leadership?(AM): I work with my people a lot. I am part of the team and they know that I don't shirk my job. As a result, they feel that if the old guy can grind out 10 to 12 hours a day then they owe it to him to grind out 10 to 12 hours a day too, of course with reasonable compensation and some time for your family . I don't know if that exact approach will work as well in the future, with so many unions and bargaining units and a strong emphasis on work-life balance. However, I think that overall when you work with your people and show them support and respect, your people will excel. (BDCO): What has been the biggest surprise you have had since attaining a senior leadership role?(AM): I'm surprised that, for the most part, the old adage of hard work and dedication being the key to success is also true for leadership. It is the best formula for obtaining and remaining in a leadership role, in addition to a supportive spouse. It is important that you and your partner have the same life goals because if your personal life is out of whack, it can affect how you lead those around you. (BDCO)What is the greatest benefit to you in attaining a senior leadership role?(AM): The greatest benefit is satisfaction. Rather than just wishing that I could do something or wishing that I could help somebody, I can actually do it. It is a very rewarding feeling.p> (BDCO): What is the biggest challenge you face in achieving results in your work?(AM): On a personal basis, this entire IT world is very difficult to keep up with after 50 years of age. It is just like learning to drive a car when you are really old. For people my age, unless they jumped on the IT bandwagon back when they were 30, it is very difficult. There has been so much knowledge at the finger tips of the younger generation as they have grown up that they can really do circles around you. (BDCO): What is your greatest opportunity/goal for providing value for your organization?(AM): Using sound reason and sober second thought to make every decision, and sharing with others what has worked, and what hasn't worked, in my past experiences. That is really where I can add some council. Think about where you are now in your career and what you can take from Al's observations. We would love to hear your comments about what are your key takeaways from our conversation with Al. Tell us your progress – we want you to succeed. ______________________________________________________________
Founded in 1983, MacPhee Chevrolet Buick GMC has grown to be the largest Chevrolet dealership in Atlantic Canada and one of the top-ten GM dealerships in the country. MacPhee Chevrolet is committed to providing the best customer service and is proud to have received GM’s Triple Crown Award 19 times, having won the last twelve years in succession. You can learn more about MacPhee Chevrolet Buick GMC at www.macpheechev.com. |
