They understand that without our people, we are nothing and that the team is our most valuable resource. The men and women leading the best modern service teams know that if we prioritize the success of our people, they will see to it that our departments are successful. One of the most important, and most used, tools of a modern leader should be listening. Ask your team questions and just listen to the answers. It's amazing what you can discover. Find out about their families. Ask about their weekends, or how their sick father is doing. Discover their " why " ; their reason for coming to work every day. Solicit their opinions on new processes, programs, and tools. Listen to the feedback with no bias or prior judgment. Suspend your ego and take in the information that is being presented to you. Our jobs become so much easier when your team feels valued and is not afraid to provide you with open and honest feedback. They won't do that unless they know that we are listening to them. (At least, not for long!) JANUARY FEBRUARY 2024 || FIXED OPS MAGAZINE 45