Page 27 - On The Move - Volume 17, Issue 1

breaks. I’ve even seen shops that have moved to universal toolboxes for all technicians, where a given
tech doesn’t have their own box, because we don’t want to portray a hierarchy within the technician
ranks, kind of like a private school and school uniforms. All of these changes are attempts to attract and
incorporate new technicians into the automotive service repair field. Are they working? I guess time will
tell.

But, in my 31-year career in this industry, I have seen one thing that has not changed. This one thing is
still rampant today and, in my opinion, is one of the largest contributors to young technicians dropping
out of the industry. What I am referring to is “The Shop Disrupter”. It’s that one technician who’s typically
not your best tech. He or she is the best at running around the shop starting calamity with the “new guy,”
as well as other technicians. Why this troublemaker seems to exist solely to agitate, I’ll never know. One
thing’s for sure – they can run off some of your best, upcoming talent. I’ve even seen them run off some
of the best veteran techs just recruited into a dealership. Cars are hard enough to repair today, without
some naysayer trying to belittle you with every
move you make. Technicians, by design,
are not social butterflies. They usually like to
deal with cars rather than people. Just being
honest here. Technicians have the patience to
remove an entire engine or transmission, but Are you investing in your technicians’ future?
by design, don’t have the patience to deal with Doing so is a great way to insure they invest in yours! MAADA’s Academy for
the human factor of a disrupter. I am amazed Automotive Professionals offers training for your team members, equipping them
what technicians can pull off at their jobs, but for success in your service department. When your techs complete our fixed
these poison pills can be a technician’s Achilles operations training courses, they come out ready to drive your shop’s revenue, as
heel. Shop disrupters tend to be very crafty well as increasing their earning potential. Courses offered include:
and can sneak under the radar of many service
managers. • Alignment Tech • Paintless Dent Removal
• Brake Tech • Professional Detailing
Unfortunately, many techs leave a job, • Damage Analysis & Estimating • Service Advisor
especially young techs, without informing • Headlight Restoration • Windshield Repair
management of the true reason as to why they • Lube Tech
left. Nobody, especially technicians, wants to
admit that some guy in the shop got under their You can find a schedule of classes
skin, so it goes on without being brought to the at www.maada.com, then cal
surface. Granted, no two people are alike. But l (770) 916-1741 to get more
all technicians I have ever seen are from the details and register.
same neck of the woods. Technicians pretty
much want the same type of lifestyle. They
don’t want to conquer the world or move up
any corporate ladder. Technicians want to do
their job properly, enjoy and take pride in their
work, know that they are appreciated, and then
go home to their families. Technicians cannot
handle the social drama these troublemakers
bring. Social drama is a key reason most
technicians don’t want to climb any corporate
ladder. They simply want no part of that.

So, before spending a bunch of money on something unnecessary, like heating the toilet
seats in the shop, work to eliminate the morale buster that threatens the harmony of your
service team. Removing a shop disrupter can go a long way toward establishing a healthy
environment for your employees. I know budgets are tight and technician pay is always a
concern. But eliminating bad aspects of the job can be more beneficial to retaining technicians
than meaningless frills, like an X Box in the breakroom. Encourage your technicians to let
you know if something is truly bothering them. This can eliminate problems before they do
harm, and it builds trust with your techs in return.

If you’ve got a bad influence in your shop, it’s time to remove them from the equation.

On The Move 2020 25