Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill Checklists Part 3: The Verbal Inspection Protocol [E109] - Speak Up! Effective Communication

Episode 109

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Published on:

24th Aug 2026

Checklists Part 3: The Verbal Inspection Protocol [E109]

Thank You To Our Partners AutoFlow, Shop Dog Marketing, InBound, and Service Advisor Training

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We close out our three-part checklist series with the Verbal Inspection Protocol in practice.

I share a real verbal inspection I found myself in the middle of today, as the scribe during a home walkthrough! We then get into what the Inspector and Scribe roles actually look like on the shop floor, how the apprentice model makes it easy to start training tomorrow, and why the Scribe's authority to hold a technician accountable matters as much as the notes they take.

We talk through what a structured call actually sounds like, how zones give the whole process rhythm, and why saying the good news out loud is often harder than reporting a problem. We also get into flags, severity, and a simple torque verification protocol worth running in every shop as a final quality control check.

All throughout, this is my favorite topic because it combines the power of our voice and gets us SPEAKING UP in the inspection processes, which I spend so much time consulting on.

All my favorite things here. I hope you enjoy and will reach out to me at speakup@craigoneill.net with any questions!

I would love to connect with you individually and help you implement the things we’re talking about in your shop!

Our Word of the Day is:

Protocol, noun. An official or established procedure, a set of rules governing how something is done correctly and consistently, especially in situations where precision and accountability matter.

I think you'll agree, this is one of those areas that matter.

Sincerely,

Craig O'Neill

Thank You To Our Partners AutoFlow, AutoLeap, Shop Dog Marketing, InBound, and Service Advisor Training

Your partner in technology, Autoflow consolidates your client interactions - before, during, and after the visit to a single thread. An end-to-end CRM for auto repair shops. https://autoflow.com/

Want to see your auto repair shop thrive? Let Shop Dog Marketing be your guide. Our customer-first approach, combined with AI-driven creative content, ensures top rankings. https://shopdogmarketing.com/

Cover your communication needs and revolutionize your auto repair business with AI-driven call analytics from InBound. https://callinbound.com/

Want a more profitable shop? Start with your service advisor. They are the face of your business, the voice on the phone, and the key to every approved repair. Download 'Words That Work - The Service Advisor's Complete Phone Scripts Playbook at https://serviceadvisortraining.com/

Contact Information

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

Download and Listen on Our Mobile App: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/app/

Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Facilitating Wisdom Through Storytelling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/

Automotive Field Theory: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/

Business by the Numbers: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/

The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/

The Weekly Blitz: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix – Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/

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About the Podcast

Speak Up! Effective Communication
With Craig O'Neill
A perfect compliment for an individual and for small businesses is to be a better communicator. Craig O'Neill exemplifies influence and leadership in helping people find their fullest potential as communicators. “Speak Up!” is a podcast that clearly focuses on learning to communicate more effectively so that we can influence positive change in all our interactions.