You don't get what you expect. You get what you inspect.
In Episode 98, the Lewis Brothers dig into why standards slip quietly — and why it's almost never a people problem. It's a follow-up problem.
They start with the assignment that never actually happened: "handle that" isn't a task, and the expectation in your head is rarely the one that left your mouth. No owner, no date, no standard — three ways a job dies without anybody noticing. Then the line between inspecting and micromanaging, which comes down to one question: are you checking how it got done, or whether it got done? Announce the walk-through in advance and it stops feeling like a raid. Inspect the work, not the person.
They close on rhythm — daily, weekly, monthly, and what genuinely doesn't need checking at all. Plus the hardest part: what you do the very first time you catch it slipping. Correct it, or you've just taught everybody the standard is optional.
Also in this episode: Two Truths and a Lie on how the car business checks itself, a Myth Buster on whether good hiring should eliminate the need to check, and What's in the Garage @ Lewis.
Presented by Lewis Automotive Group. https://www.lewissuperstore.com | https://www.crossroadconversationspodcast.com/
Member discussion: