From a comptroller's stand point, I have watched as dealers downsized staff adjusting expenses to the economics times, predominantly in the area of management.  This left GM's and GSM's job responsibilities dramatically changing now compiled with many tedious and time consuming duties.  Have the ever so important regular "one on one" interviews with employees, technicians, sales consultants, advisors, parts counterman taken a back seat to the busy work?  When an employee in not feeling a sense of involvement and acquires an perception that nobody really cares about their goals, their needs, their results on goals set, their morales diminish, thus affecting attitudes, energy levels, productivity, and finally the bottom line! 

What are your thoughts regarding leadership roles taking a genuine interest in the personal goals of their staff?  What kinds of programs do you have set up in your dealership to promote goal setting with rewards aligned with attainment of such goals?