Get Advice on Team Development, Customer Satisfaction, Safety Compliance and Overall Business Practices

This year, 74 of our branch managers reached a very high rung on a metaphorical career ladder when they became managing partners – the highest level of achievement among ABC Supply’s branch managers.

“These individuals demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to the success of their associates and customers,” said Mike Jost, ABC Supply’s chief operating officer. “We’re proud to have them representing ABC Supply and leading our amazing teams.”

If you recognize any of the names on the list of new managing partners, don’t worry — they’re not going anywhere. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of their respective branches, the new managing partners will also serve on ABC Supply’s National Branch Advisory Board. There they will share the knowledge and expertise they’ve developed in four key areas: associate development, customer satisfaction, safety compliance and excellence in overall business practices.

Because those aspects drive success in any business — not just ours — we asked some of our new managing partners to share their top tips for success. Here’s what they had to say.

Dedicate Time to Develop Your Team

• Tailor your management skills around each individual associate so they can have fun, grow and prosper.
• Learn to lead different types of people who are at all different skill levels.
• Delegate tasks to your associates. You should coach and take responsibility for their decisions, but ultimately, they should be steeped in the business and understand how it works so they are empowered.
• Find talent, train them and give them opportunity. If you create an environment where they enjoy their work, then you can just continue the cycle.
• Be compassionate with your associates and put yourself in their shoes. If you care for them, they’ll care for you.

Ensure Customer Satisfaction

• Always have empathy for your customer and make the best decision with them and your business in mind.
• As the coach, you have the vision, but you have to motivate your team to see that vision and do what it takes to achieve it.
• Focus on relationships. Try meeting customers one on one.
• Be genuinely interested in your customers’ lives. I want people to come away from every interaction with me feeling cared for.
• Listen to your customers. It sounds simple, but you can glean a lot of valuable information and insight from them.

Protect the Safety of Your Employees

• Walk around your business and make sure everyone has what they need to do their job and stay safe. Make it a priority to fix the problems that stem from the environment around you.
• Stand firm on the guidelines set by your safety program. It’s our responsibility as managers to get people home to their families safe.

Strive for Excellence in Your Overall Business Practices

• You have to be willing to take a risk. Do your homework and you’ll get more of those risks right than wrong.
• Remain calm and composed when addressing problems. Nothing gets accomplished when we’re upset.
• Stay true to your company’s core values, and invest in yourself. If you do those things, everything else will come.
• Show up, work hard and do the right thing. You may not see the impact of those three things each and every day, but they bring you long-term success.

Congratulations to our newest class of managing partners! Their stellar business acumen is driving results every day for our customers and associates. Those interested in learning more about the career opportunities at ABC Supply, which include drivers, material handlers, sales roles and management positions, can visit careers.abcsupply.com.