Comments on: The Art Of Leadership – A Ford Story http://blog.actslike.com/2009/08/10/the-art-of-leadership-a-ford-story/ brought to you by Actslike LLC Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:28:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Mike L http://blog.actslike.com/2009/08/10/the-art-of-leadership-a-ford-story/comment-page-1/#comment-338 Mike L Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:28:44 +0000 http://blog.actslike.com/?p=5#comment-338 I think we all should pull for the American auto makers. Sure they made mistakes and lost their way, but the more succesful companies the better for consumers. I prefer the germans myself, but that's more for driving dynamics than anything else. <a href="http://www.germancarenthusiast.com/store/product/V222137-663-pj" rel="nofollow">VW Parts</a> I think we all should pull for the American auto makers. Sure they made mistakes and lost their way, but the more succesful companies the better for consumers. I prefer the germans myself, but that’s more for driving dynamics than anything else.

VW Parts

]]> By: The Brand & Social Media Shakeup - Scatter/Gather: a Razorfish blog about content strategy, pop culture and human behavior http://blog.actslike.com/2009/08/10/the-art-of-leadership-a-ford-story/comment-page-1/#comment-52 The Brand & Social Media Shakeup - Scatter/Gather: a Razorfish blog about content strategy, pop culture and human behavior Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:54:34 +0000 http://blog.actslike.com/?p=5#comment-52 [...] to the overall brand impression that traditional marketing could never achieve.  Take a recent post by a new Ford customer where he details the experience of reaching out to Ford via Twitter which in turn would lead to a [...] [...] to the overall brand impression that traditional marketing could never achieve.  Take a recent post by a new Ford customer where he details the experience of reaching out to Ford via Twitter which in turn would lead to a [...]

]]> By: Jim Cipriano http://blog.actslike.com/2009/08/10/the-art-of-leadership-a-ford-story/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Jim Cipriano Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:57:05 +0000 http://blog.actslike.com/?p=5#comment-35 I've been a "Ford Man" since the 8th grade, honest. Never owned anything else so it was a natural to get to work for the Ford Motor Company. Even though in the Customer Service Division, selling Ford Products and being a Ford booster were full time jubs. Over the years, Ford made some cars that were not the best. But now, it seems like we have turned a corner. Mr. Mulally joined the Company before I retired in 2007 and I'm glad he did. We currently own an Edge and 4 other Ford Products. Remember, One Ford!! I’ve been a “Ford Man” since the 8th grade, honest. Never owned anything else so it was a natural to get to work for the Ford Motor Company. Even though in the Customer Service Division, selling Ford Products and being a Ford booster were full time jubs. Over the years, Ford made some cars that were not the best. But now, it seems like we have turned a corner. Mr. Mulally joined the Company before I retired in 2007 and I’m glad he did. We currently own an Edge and 4 other Ford Products. Remember, One Ford!!

]]> By: Dallas Hixson http://blog.actslike.com/2009/08/10/the-art-of-leadership-a-ford-story/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Dallas Hixson Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:40:06 +0000 http://blog.actslike.com/?p=5#comment-34 I am a Ford dealer with several stores. Additionally, I am on the Ford Dealer Council, one of 30 dealers that represents the dealer body with Ford Motor Company. Your experience with the management team is spot on!!! This is the finest group of people I have ever worked with and they are on a mission with the dealers to create products and experiences that keep customers coming back. Being a Ford Dealer has never been more fun, even with the difficult times we have right now. I was in Detroit last week for meetings and Alan spoke to us this past Monday; its like talking with your best friend! You can feel his passion and you just want to get up and go do something! I would put him up to run for President of the USA but I don't want to lose him from Ford! www.thefordstory.com, DriveOne! I am a Ford dealer with several stores. Additionally, I am on the Ford Dealer Council, one of 30 dealers that represents the dealer body with Ford Motor Company. Your experience with the management team is spot on!!! This is the finest group of people I have ever worked with and they are on a mission with the dealers to create products and experiences that keep customers coming back.

Being a Ford Dealer has never been more fun, even with the difficult times we have right now. I was in Detroit last week for meetings and Alan spoke to us this past Monday; its like talking with your best friend! You can feel his passion and you just want to get up and go do something! I would put him up to run for President of the USA but I don’t want to lose him from Ford! http://www.thefordstory.com, DriveOne!

]]> By: Clifton Lambreth http://blog.actslike.com/2009/08/10/the-art-of-leadership-a-ford-story/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Clifton Lambreth Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:33:41 +0000 http://blog.actslike.com/?p=5#comment-33 Alan Mulally is a true Servant Leader that is trying to do the Right things! A CEO that cares about customers and takes time to engage them. That is a leadership style worthy of duplication! Henry Ford would be proud! Oh Yeah welcome to the Ford family!!! You are part of the American Legacy now! Don't forget to Pay It Forward! Alan Mulally is a true Servant Leader that is trying to do the Right things!

A CEO that cares about customers and takes time to engage them. That is a leadership style worthy of duplication!
Henry Ford would be proud!

Oh Yeah welcome to the Ford family!!! You are part of the American Legacy now! Don’t forget to Pay It Forward!

]]> By: SVR Aravind http://blog.actslike.com/2009/08/10/the-art-of-leadership-a-ford-story/comment-page-1/#comment-31 SVR Aravind Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:57:56 +0000 http://blog.actslike.com/?p=5#comment-31 As a Ford employee am so excited to see that we are getting the right prodcuts into the market with great features. I owned a Ford Escort and now Ford IKON and it is a pleasure to drive a car which assures a ride worthy of royalty. As a Ford employee am so excited to see that we are getting the right prodcuts into the market with great features.

I owned a Ford Escort and now Ford IKON and it is a pleasure to drive a car which assures a ride worthy of royalty.

]]> By: MSGiro http://blog.actslike.com/2009/08/10/the-art-of-leadership-a-ford-story/comment-page-1/#comment-30 MSGiro Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:49:13 +0000 http://blog.actslike.com/?p=5#comment-30 Hey Rob, I understand your argument, but the two issues are actually unrelated. The Ford dealership that I first went to was a great in-person experience. The consultant knew the Edge inside and out and like me, as a car junkie, informed me of the details that most consumers and consultants glaze over, but those are the details that win me over. The problem was that after a positive experience they never called me back. I still haven't heard from them. Nothing. How does that happen? If I were the GSM I'd be livid over losing a deal that just walked through the door. I've been sized up as "Not a legit buyer" in the past (by Lexus) and on both occurrences I purchased a new vehicle within a month of that incident. The "You know more than me" issue came up at a VW dealership. What turned me off so much was when you tell me I know more about the car than you do (I'm fine with that, because I usually do tons of homework.) you have to assume that I may know something about the details of the selling process. Trying to pull a fast one one me by saying "There is no way I can move these numbers" after your first and only volley. They were 5% over invoice so obviously we weren't even close to dipping into holdback territory and about .5% over the posted APR on VWs own website! On top of that when I asked about the factor and residual it felt like pulling teeth to get that info and finally I never got a trade-in offer though they had all the information. We did go to another VW dealership (Minuteman in Bedford, MA for those wondering), who was awesome and incredibly aggressive with their pricing on an 09 Tiguan, but as much as I loved it the Tiguan was the smallest of the crossovers we were looking at and with two kids and a 60lb dog the fit would have been a bit snug to say the least. Hey Rob,

I understand your argument, but the two issues are actually unrelated. The Ford dealership that I first went to was a great in-person experience. The consultant knew the Edge inside and out and like me, as a car junkie, informed me of the details that most consumers and consultants glaze over, but those are the details that win me over. The problem was that after a positive experience they never called me back. I still haven’t heard from them. Nothing. How does that happen? If I were the GSM I’d be livid over losing a deal that just walked through the door. I’ve been sized up as “Not a legit buyer” in the past (by Lexus) and on both occurrences I purchased a new vehicle within a month of that incident.

The “You know more than me” issue came up at a VW dealership. What turned me off so much was when you tell me I know more about the car than you do (I’m fine with that, because I usually do tons of homework.) you have to assume that I may know something about the details of the selling process. Trying to pull a fast one one me by saying “There is no way I can move these numbers” after your first and only volley. They were 5% over invoice so obviously we weren’t even close to dipping into holdback territory and about .5% over the posted APR on VWs own website! On top of that when I asked about the factor and residual it felt like pulling teeth to get that info and finally I never got a trade-in offer though they had all the information. We did go to another VW dealership (Minuteman in Bedford, MA for those wondering), who was awesome and incredibly aggressive with their pricing on an 09 Tiguan, but as much as I loved it the Tiguan was the smallest of the crossovers we were looking at and with two kids and a 60lb dog the fit would have been a bit snug to say the least.

]]> By: Rob http://blog.actslike.com/2009/08/10/the-art-of-leadership-a-ford-story/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Rob Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:42:13 +0000 http://blog.actslike.com/?p=5#comment-29 Welcome to the Ford family. Being involved in a Ford dealrship for 15-years, I can tell you this current and upcoming product line is the best offering from Ford Motor Company that I have seen. The Ford Flex is the best driving vehicle I have been in to date. I see that stigma though of dealerships not treating people right are still out there. Maybe you were just unfortunate in your experience, but there are many fine Sales Consultant's and dealerships across this land. In this day and age with internet information, a customer that is looking at a Edge, lets say, has been going over the information for 2 weeks, while the Sales Consultant has to know 15-17 different vehicle lines. It has come to the point where a customer comes into the dealership, and may know more about the vehicle they wish to purchase than the Consultant selling it, which can be a put off to the customer. It is the new day of the customer/consultant dealings, and the Consultants have to move to the next level in knowing their information. Part of the Consultant's job function is to show the feature/benefits to the customer, but when the customer comes in knowing all of this, it is easy for the consultant to try and take it to the next step in the selling process. It is not an excuse, but just a new dynamic with the infomation age upon us, and the sales process will need to be tweaked in this information age. Customer/Consultant relationships are different than 15-years ago, that is a fact, but it still comes down to being sincere, honest, and assisting a customer to make sure they obtain the vehicle that best meets their needs and budgets.....that will not change. Thank you again for your purchase of a Ford Motor Company product. It may be time for the old tag line, 'Have you Driven a Ford Lately?' Welcome to the Ford family. Being involved in a Ford dealrship for 15-years, I can tell you this current and upcoming product line is the best offering from Ford Motor Company that I have seen. The Ford Flex is the best driving vehicle I have been in to date.
I see that stigma though of dealerships not treating people right are still out there. Maybe you were just unfortunate in your experience, but there are many fine Sales Consultant’s and dealerships across this land. In this day and age with internet information, a customer that is looking at a Edge, lets say, has been going over the information for 2 weeks, while the Sales Consultant has to know 15-17 different vehicle lines. It has come to the point where a customer comes into the dealership, and may know more about the vehicle they wish to purchase than the Consultant selling it, which can be a put off to the customer. It is the new day of the customer/consultant dealings, and the Consultants have to move to the next level in knowing their information. Part of the Consultant’s job function is to show the feature/benefits to the customer, but when the customer comes in knowing all of this, it is easy for the consultant to try and take it to the next step in the selling process. It is not an excuse, but just a new dynamic with the infomation age upon us, and the sales process will need to be tweaked in this information age. Customer/Consultant relationships are different than 15-years ago, that is a fact, but it still comes down to being sincere, honest, and assisting a customer to make sure they obtain the vehicle that best meets their needs and budgets…..that will not change.

Thank you again for your purchase of a Ford Motor Company product. It may be time for the old tag line, ‘Have you Driven a Ford Lately?’

]]> By: Samantha http://blog.actslike.com/2009/08/10/the-art-of-leadership-a-ford-story/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Samantha Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:46:54 +0000 http://blog.actslike.com/?p=5#comment-28 Thanks for giving Ford a chance! Fraser and Chris, and the rest of the family (the Ford employees) look forward to having you in our family for many years to come. I have an Edge, too, and love it. As you have seen, Alan leads by example and it's rubbing off on all of us, in a good way. We were good before, but now we're poised to be the best at making cars and trucks that people love to drive, which was Henry's mission back in 1903! Thanks for giving Ford a chance! Fraser and Chris, and the rest of the family (the Ford employees) look forward to having you in our family for many years to come. I have an Edge, too, and love it. As you have seen, Alan leads by example and it’s rubbing off on all of us, in a good way. We were good before, but now we’re poised to be the best at making cars and trucks that people love to drive, which was Henry’s mission back in 1903!

]]> By: brian http://blog.actslike.com/2009/08/10/the-art-of-leadership-a-ford-story/comment-page-1/#comment-27 brian Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:40:54 +0000 http://blog.actslike.com/?p=5#comment-27 As a dealership employee I would like to welcome you to the family. As a dealership employee I would like to welcome you to the family.

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