Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:31 pm Post subject: Status of Technicians
I have written several post on motivation and most have revolved around removal of de-motivators. I believe removal of de-motivational factors will allow the natural motivation in normal people to come out. I further believe a motivated staff will produce more and higher quality services, because it pleases them to do so.
The subject of status of technicians is one I have never seen discussed. I have a few thoughts on the matter, but would prefer to hear from others. The questions I hope to discuss are these:
What might be done, within a company, to raise the status of technicians?
Do you think an increase in status might be beneficial?
Joined: 19 May 2007 Posts: 206 Location: Camp Verde, AZ
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:36 pm Post subject: Re: Status of Technicians
louis wrote:
What might be done, within a company, to raise the status of technicians?
Do you think an increase in status might be beneficial?
Why or why not?
Thanks
Louis,
I think that in our society people that work with their hands have a lower status. When I was going to school the kids that were not college material were labeled dumb and pushed into the vo-tech classes. We were taught how to work with our hands. We accepted [ believed ] that we were not as good as the college bound kids. To think about it, no one from this group ever held a class office or was a star in sports. We were not expected to go very far in life.
Today in the automotive field a technician is not dumb. They have to have a good working knowledge of electronics, computers, hydraulics, mechanics, etc. It is an ever changing field where we must continually learn new things. But we still believe we are second class citizens and society still treats us that way.
We need to treat technicians as good human beings. This can be done, in part, by paying them a good wage and benefits. Providing a good place to work in, the physical building. It should be temperature controlled, with in reason. Provide them with proper tooling so they can do their jobs. Provide them with schooling so they can understand what they are working on. Tell them they are smart and encourage them to be the best they can be. We need to raise our expections of what our techs are capable of.
I think that we also need to educate the public about how complicated a vehicle is. How the different systems are interrelated. What it takes to work on a modern vehicle. Most of them have no clue. They think that we just plug our “computer” into their car and the “computer” tells us what is wrong. All we have to do is replace the part.
I think an increase in status would be beneficial. The better a person feels about them selves the better job they do. They are more productive in all areas of life, not just work.
I look forward to hearing what others have to say.
_________________ David Wittmayer
Owner / Manager
Hansen Enterprises Fleet Repair, LLC
Camp Verde, AZ
www.hefrshop.com
Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Status of Technicians
Dave wrote:
Louis,
I think that in our society people that work with their hands have a lower status. When I was going to school the kids that were not college material were labeled dumb and pushed into the vo-tech classes. We were taught how to work with our hands. We accepted [ believed ] that we were not as good as the college bound kids. To think about it, no one from this group ever held a class office or was a star in sports. We were not expected to go very far in life.
You are right, that is the way it was. At one time it was, "You're not so bright, you had better learn a technical trade." Now it's, "You're not so bright, you had better try to get into college, you're not qualified for a technical trade."
Dave wrote:
Today in the automotive field a technician is not dumb. They have to have a good working knowledge of electronics, computers, hydraulics, mechanics, etc. It is an ever changing field where we must continually learn new things. But we still believe we are second class citizens and society still treats us that way.
I believe this is the heart of a great many problems. In my article, Why Johnny Can't Wrench, I touched on this. I think there is a huge amount of possibility in this field, and an immense competitive advantage for those wise enough to see it.
Dave wrote:
We need to treat technicians as good human beings. This can be done, in part, by paying them a good wage and benefits. Providing a good place to work in, the physical building. It should be temperature controlled, with in reason. Provide them with proper tooling so they can do their jobs. Provide them with schooling so they can understand what they are working on. Tell them they are smart and encourage them to be the best they can be. We need to raise our expections of what our techs are capable of.
I think that we also need to educate the public about how complicated a vehicle is. How the different systems are interrelated. What it takes to work on a modern vehicle. Most of them have no clue. They think that we just plug our “computer” into their car and the “computer” tells us what is wrong. All we have to do is replace the part.
I think an increase in status would be beneficial. The better a person feels about them selves the better job they do. They are more productive in all areas of life, not just work.
I look forward to hearing what others have to say.
I think this may be a very lonely post I have seen almost no work done in this field at all. Hopefully others will offer input. I am putting together several thoughts on the topic. If there is more interest I will post it later, if not I will email a copy to you. Thanks Dave, I truly appreciate your input.
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:55 am Post subject: Re: Status of Technicians
louis wrote:
I think this may be a very lonely post I have seen almost no work done in this field at all. Hopefully others will offer input. I am putting together several thoughts on the topic. If there is more interest I will post it later, if not I will email a copy to you. Thanks Dave, I truly appreciate your input.
OK, here's a tidbit: The status of doctors is falling, the status lawyers used to have has all but dissappeared.
Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:49 am Post subject: Re: Status of Technicians
Bud wrote:
louis wrote:
I think this may be a very lonely post I have seen almost no work done in this field at all. Hopefully others will offer input. I am putting together several thoughts on the topic. If there is more interest I will post it later, if not I will email a copy to you. Thanks Dave, I truly appreciate your input.
OK, here's a tidbit: The status of doctors is falling, the status lawyers used to have has all but dissappeared.
Status is a very complex thing. Actually there is status, which is basically a position in society and there's "Role" which is the way a person of a particular status is "supposed" to act. Both are highly interrelated, but separate. To top it off, it's all based on perception, which is highly influence-able.
Joined: 17 May 2007 Posts: 38 Location: New Iberia, La.70560
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject:
Hi Louis,
Louis Wrote
Quote:
1-What might be done, within a company, to raise the status of technicians?
2-Do you think an increase in status might be beneficial?
3-Why or why not?
The first question is the most difficult for me. What can be done?
Another question, what is meant by status?
If status means how the tech sees himself, then there are many possible approaches to be tested.
A whole lot has been said already concerning the environment. Maybe a company can't ever afford to stop improving the environment the techs are exposed. For example my own shop has become cluttered, lighting needs to be better and on and on.
Of course adequate compensations, which has already been referred to, is of most importance. The truth is that for the level of skills techs do not receive adequate pay
One might ask, who are the people who have a sense of value in their chosen field? Policeman, fireman, serviceman (especially serviceman in special forces) all have a couple of items in common. Uniforms, additional training and recognition for accomplishment are some that come to mind. Others might involve a higher sense of risk, such as danger or difficulty in performing.
The value that society places on the tasks that individuals perform, such as saving a life, a doctor, or defending the defenseless, a lawyer, providing transportation, an automobile engineer, has a great deal to do with how society sees certain careers. To change societies views seem very difficult and expensive.
Another observation is that when a person is recognized in public a sense of what position he holds in society goes up. By public is meant the techs community, his family, and of course his wife and kids.
Each tech has areas in which they have a higher interest. Management might be asking, on a on going bases, what do you need to develop your interest further. Too many times I have forced techs into roles that they did not want because of needs of the company. Experience tells me this was counter productive.
Physiologist tells us that one of the basic needs of mankind is a sense of importance. They tell us that frequently when a person commits suicide, they state they are no longer needed.
If status means how does one tech compare to another in skills, tenure, production, knowledge and the treatment and recognition of the two, the question becomes very difficult.
I think attempting to raise the status of techs within a company is worthwhile, with some reservations. These are a few. When management uses status to create:
1-A sense of competition between techs
2-A scarcity mentality(only available for a few)
3-A phony sense of status such as, a title while continuing to treat them as if they have little worth
4-An environment of manipulation through the use of status builders.
There has been a ton of status building propaganda that has not change a thing and may have contributed to techs exiting the business.
At times Dealership tech seem to have a superior attitude to techs that work in independent shops. New or fairly new pristine work areas, the latest in equipment, these should be the reasons why dealership should be able to hold on to techs. Why is it then that these same tech leave dealerships to go to work in independent shops or other careers.
A recent story comes to mind concerning a tech who had 16yr experience in a Honda dealership who spoke to his shop foreman concerning a competitive offer he received from another company. The tech told me after 3 weeks and reminding the shop foreman, he took the new job. He stated that he really didn't want to leave but he was shocked that management seemed not to even care if he departed or remained. How special do you think he felt? Not knowing much about his skills I asked around. Nothing but one positive testimonial after the other.
I can’t understand treating anyone this way.
I'm looking forward to what you and others might think. Thanks for all you do!
Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 3:33 pm Post subject:
Hi Mike,
slimmv wrote:
Hi Louis,
Louis Wrote
Quote:
1-What might be done, within a company, to raise the status of technicians?
2-Do you think an increase in status might be beneficial?
3-Why or why not?
The first question is the most difficult for me. What can be done?
Another question, what is meant by status?
If status means how the tech sees himself, then there are many possible approaches to be tested.
I think it is a very difficult question, possibly one without an answer. I also feel it is the type question everyone that benefits from the work of technicians might be asking themselves. Status cannot be, in my opinion, the way a person sees themself. I think that is more an issue of self confidence or possibly self awareness. If that were the definition, this would be a psychological question. I believe it is more of a sociological question instead.
My thought is stratification exist in all society. That is, levels into which people are supposed to fit. The level [role] is controlled by many factors and indeed a person can fit many levels. In some societies this has formed into a caste system, where people are largely born into and largely remain in their class. Not so in the US or many modern societies. Ours is more of a class system, divided by factors like age, sex, race, occupation and so on.
The following are simply my thoughts on the matter. Perhaps the need to classify people is as old as people themselves. When we were a hunter/gatherer society, there was little classification, because all members [of the tribe] were needed. There was little in the way of resources, just enough to get by.
As society evolved, we became more of an agricultural society. Now we could produce more than was needed for survival. There was actually a surplus and this presented a quandary. Who would receive the surplus and in what amounts? Clearly those with the most power, be it physical strength at the time or later cunning, would receive the most. In order to preserve the advantage perhaps classes were invented?
I don’t mean to drift too far from my original intent but I feel that is, at least in part, the origin of status. People fit within groups or classes and are expected [by society] to act and react in a certain way [play a role.] This makes life somewhat easier on a daily basis and can create a good deal of issues when it falls apart. For instance, much of society thinks of a law officer as someone who is there to help. If instead, someone views them as someone there to harm, the reaction of that person is very different when approached.
The same law officer could also be basketball coach, a church member and a father. In these roles they may be reacted to very differently, even by the same people. Each role might have a status attached and a different reaction from society, even though it is the same person.
I apologize for the verbose approach, but I don’t know a better way. My original question was:
Quote:
1-What might be done, within a company, to raise the status of technicians?
The key phrase here, to me is “within a company.” With regard to society as a whole, I do not believe it within the scope of any business to affect much of a change. Within a business I think there may be things that can be done, and I further believe they may be beneficial to the technician and the company. Thanks Mike, I appreciate your input. I invite any and all thoughts?
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I have seen almost no work done in this field at all. Hopefully others will offer input. I am putting together several thoughts on the topic. If there is more interest I will post it later, if not I will email a copy to you. Thanks Dave, I truly appreciate your input.