Lobsiger: What’s the Score?

Even though I have been in this industry full time for nearly 40 years, automobiles are not on my list of hobbies. But one I do make time for is riding — and now racing — dirt bikes more since our kids have grown.  

In dirt bike racing, there are many types of events like supercross, motocross, enduros, and even a mix called grand prix. I have ridden some of these, but a new one that I had heard of but never participated in is called a Sprint Enduro. A few days prior to my writing this column, I ran from my home state of Indiana up to Michigan to race in my first one. The race consists of different timed events, one is an enduro test and the other a motocross test. The riders line up for each event by classes determined by age and ability. The fastest class will start in the front and the slower classes file behind. A rider takes off every 15 seconds by a countdown timer. By the end of the race, each rider will have done four enduro and four moto tests. Obviously, this sounds a little complex. I even wondered before I got there, how in the world would I know who won or even what place I would be in by the end of the race?  

Most human beings have a competitive spirit inside of them with a will and want to win. I will never forget when I was walking through one of the major U.S. airport tunnels between terminals. I heard two men come up from behind me, flying by in a full sprint as they ran side by side. Both, ironically, had a strain and big grin ear to ear. I am sure they both walked into this long tunnel, then looked at each other and one said to the other, “Want to race?,” and off they went. These two men were not only alive, but they were living! I am sure by the end of that 150-yard tunnel, they knew which one was fastest. 

Back to my dirt bike race. When I registered for the event, I was given an RFID transponder for my helmet. At the beginning of each test, we rode through a transponder reader and another at the end. Three different times between tests, we were able to go back to our vehicles for a 10–15-minute break. We could then check our phones to see what place we were each in for our individual classes. We could then develop a strategy to improve our time for the next test and maybe place higher by the end of the race. Let me tell you, this whole race was a blast, and I am already planning for the next one! 

Now, what would the race have been like if I had no idea what place I was in or who was first or who was last with over 200 riders? How about the sport you love, like football, basketball, golf, soccer, or even watching the summer Olympics that just finished? What if there was no scoreboard for goals, baskets, swings, shots or even event times? Would we even watch them?

A few years back, recommended to me was the book “The Game of Work,” by Charles A. Coonradt. This is a must-read for owners and managers. It is crucial to make the work fun for our employees and one of the best ways to do this is called the “gamification” of the work.
In Chuck’s book, he states, “There are three kinds of workers or players:
1. Those who know they are winning.
2. Those who know they are losing.
3. Those who don’t know the score!”  

First, we must figure out our business’ objectives for desired gross profit, net profit and revenue. As an example, to determine how many estimate (billed) hours must be produced each day and then relay this to our team. Let’s say your team is currently producing 90 hours per day and you establish a ‘Stretch Goal’ of 105 hours per day to achieve your objectives. Then, let the team know where they stand each morning of the prior day’s results and what the goal must be for the end of today. In my opinion, you must tie a global monetary or time-off bonus system to the goal of 105 hours per day. THIS IS CRUCIAL to getting every team member rowing together!! As I have written before, I am not in favor of individual or even by-department bonus systems. This creates silos and promotes selfishness.  

So, imagine a sports world with no winners or losers. Many shop owners are running this same boring/nonmotivating world inside their shops. Be the leader your employees desire and “Let the games begin!”