Connected Podcast

“Can you share your background and how you got your start in automotive?”

This is a standard opening question used to establish the guest's origin story and credibility.

“Can you talk about your approach to learning and understanding the details of the business?”

Uland asks this to uncover the guest's foundational mindset and personal development strategy.

“What's your reaction to the idea that trust is the essence of any relationship?”

The host introduces a core concept to guide the conversation toward a central theme like partnership or culture.

“What metrics are you looking at for continuous improvement?”

This question seeks to understand the specific, practical business strategies the guest employs.

“How do you blend a people-first approach with getting the most out of technology?”

A recurring theme, this question connects the human and technical elements of running a dealership.

“How do you find and vet good people to hire?”

A direct follow-up used to extract specific, actionable hiring processes from successful managers.

“What's harder: hiring good people or keeping good people?”

This question serves as a launchpad into a deeper discussion on recruitment and retention tactics.

“Why do you think other stores don't execute on these simple improvements?”

Asked after a guest details a successful strategy, this elicits commentary on common industry mindsets and roadblocks.

“What should a dealer look for when deciding who to send to training like the NADA Academy?”

This seeks advice on identifying and developing high-potential employees.

“Is there anything we haven't talked about that we should have?”

This is Uland's signature closing question, giving guests a final opportunity to share their thoughts.

“Have you measured the before-and-after impact of these changes?”

Uland uses this to quantify the success of a guest's ideas and ground the conversation in tangible results.

“What do you see for the future of the parts/service business?”

A forward-looking question typically asked near the end of the interview to get the guest's perspective on industry trends.