By Amy Antenora, Managing Editor

CHICAGO -- Former NFL coach, Hall of Famer and NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs kicked off the 10th annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) with a presentation on taking team-building lessons from the ball field to the boardroom.

Parallels between sports and the aftermarket do indeed exist. Pro football and the aftermarket are both competitive worlds, said Gibbs, relying upon basic principles such as knowing the competition and selling your philosophy to your team.

Describing the pressure-filled process from practice to game day, Gibbs noted that one of the keys to team building is defining goals to be met in the shortest time possible. “You put people in that environment and they’ll compete,” said Gibbs.

Another critical element, said Gibbs, is offering incentives and rewarding employees in front of their peers. “People love rewards,” said Gibbs. “People love recognition. People are competitive.”

The final elements of Gibbs’ key recommendations: Test for what you want in an employee and find people who truly care about what they do and who play by the rules. “The high quality business, and high-quality people are those who take the high road,” said Gibbs. “To become successful in your occupation you must have the right priorities in your life.”

“The most important priority in my life is my relationship with God,” said Gibbs. “Second most important in my life, my family and the influence I’m having on others. Where does that put my occupation? Third. It is the third most important thing in my life. The key is finding people who understand that.”

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