Rachel Rhodes has fielded A TON of questions over the last three months.

The DFW-based Platform Solutions Manager has served as a key point person for the onboarding of our new AgentDealer CRM. She’s worked behind the scenes for nearly a year along with others like Roy Faries to bring the CRM live for the Texas branch. Now, she’s going above and beyond the call of duty to help the sales representatives understand the complex yet powerful CRM, utilize its strengths, and field the inevitable issues that come with any new big onboarding. Be they Friday Morning sales Meetings, formal training, or just the one-off question from a rep, she’s ready to serve.

The bottom line? She welcomes the questions – all of them.

East Texas Area Sales Manager Josh Sims says that Rachel’s ability to help whenever a situation comes has been “phenomenal.”

“Rachel has been the pivotal piece to the company making the transition to AgentDealer,” Josh said.  “The way she learned the system well enough to even correct people on the AgentDealer side was awesome.  The way she shared best practices and continued the training process has been great.  Had she not been the key operator at the beginning, I don’t think we would have been able to transition as smoothly as we did!”

Inquisitive people are welcome here at Datamax.  The Datamax Principle “Honor our systems or initiate positive change” is only achieved by an openness to change and a willingness from our managers and executives to find the answer by whatever means possible.

“I feel like from the top down, we aspire to have an organization where if you have a question, you can go to anyone from an executive down, and they would be willing to take that on or get them to the available resource. And an employee never feels like they are out of line in asking a question,” Rachel said. “And I hope that idea trickles all the way down to a brand new hire.”

Keep People Inquisitive: 9 Reasons Why It’s Important.

Clarity and Understanding: For those new to our industry, things can get complex fast. Questions help employees clarify doubts and gain a deeper understanding of their tasks, projects, or company policies. This reduces misunderstandings, mistakes, and miscommunications.

1. Learning and Development: The recent CRM onboarding in Texas is proof. When employees can ask questions, they have the opportunity to learn from more experienced colleagues or supervisors. This continuous learning fosters personal and professional development.
2. Problem Solving: Questions often arise when employees encounter challenges or problems. Being able to ask for help or guidance allows them to overcome obstacles more effectively. See: Problem Seek, Problem Solve.
3. Innovation: Encouraging questions can lead to innovative thinking. Employees may question existing practices, leading to improvements and new ideas that can benefit the company. See “Honor our systems or initiate positive change.”
4. Engagement and Ownership: When employees feel their questions are valued and answered, they are more engaged and feel a sense of ownership in their work. This can lead to higher job satisfaction and motivation.
5. Team Collaboration: Asking questions can facilitate collaboration among team members. It encourages open discussions, sharing of ideas, and a collaborative problem-solving approach.
6. Clear Communication: Allowing questions ensures that important information is communicated clearly. Employees can seek clarification on instructions, goals, or expectations, leading to better performance and results.
7. Cultural Inclusion: In diverse workplaces, different employees may have varying backgrounds and perspectives. Encouraging questions ensures that everyone understands each other's viewpoints, promoting inclusivity and cultural awareness.
8. Employee Satisfaction: Feeling comfortable asking questions demonstrates that a company values its employees' curiosity and growth. This positive atmosphere can contribute to higher job satisfaction and retention rates.
9. Trust Building: When employees can openly ask questions and receive honest answers, it builds trust between them and the management. This trust is crucial for a healthy work environment.

Keep People Inquisitive: It’s a Culture Thing.

It comes down to our culture.  “Honor our systems or initiative positive change.” That often starts by simply asking questions. We welcome all inquiries from the ground level up, to help people better understand their role, better achieve success, and make Datamax better as a whole.

“Our culture has always been, when we built our hierarchies and permissions… those are intentional practices so people feel like they don’t have to go to just one person. We all want to be available to support whatever questions a particular employee might have,” Rachel said.