Ask a customer whom they’d prefer to have working on their car and you’ll likely get two answers:
- When it comes to repairing the car, they want a master craftsman.
- When it’s time to calculate the bill, most any mechanic will do.
In other words, they want the best technician to repair their cars, but they’d rather just pay street prices for the work. But there’s an important difference between how mechanics and masters approach their work and it can sometimes lead to even lower costs to have the master working on your car.
That’s because the craftsman often has the skills to identify a problem faster and more accurately, and fix it without having to perform unnecessary repairs. The hourly rate may be higher, but you end up spending less overall.
What is the difference between a mechanic and a master craftsman? The easy answer is skills, training, and experience. The true answer goes deeper than that.
Go into any shop and, in just a few moments, you can discern who the professionals are and aren’t. It isn’t hard to tell who’s taking the job seriously and who’s just doing the work. The masters even carry themselves differently; they seem to have a confidence and pride in performance that sets them apart.
- Masters think longer term. They’re building a career and cultivating a reputation, not just performing a job.
- Masters focus on the customer first and then on the car. Mechanics just fix the car. Masters address the concerns and needs of the customer.
- Masters take responsibility for their own professional education. They’re always learning and inquiring about new ideas. They build their own library and subscribe to specialty sites. Mechanics expect the owner to provide their training and take no initiative on their own.
- Masters sharpen their axe constantly: new tools, new skills, and new ways to analyze problems. They build their own tool collection instead of relying on the shop to provide specialty tools.
- Masters look for the simplest and most lasting solution. Instead of a full rebuild, they may simply replace a valve. They also look beyond the car, to the way it’s being operated. Sometimes a little “driver training” may eliminate a problem.
- Masters don’t watch the clock; they watch the use of their time. They focus on productive activities instead of easy or pleasing ones. They’re apprehensive about any-thing that takes them away from being productive.
- Masters are eager to help others. They willingly coach new technicians and explain their methods to enthusiastic learners. But they won’t waste their time coaching someone who doesn’t really want to learn.
- Masters create equity. Each step they take is another brick in the foundation of the career they’re building. That’s why they build their own resource library and tool set. That’s also why they help make the shop a better place for everyone to work.
- Masters don’t feel threatened by others with greater skills; instead, they’re inspired by them. They learn from everyone.
- Masters don’t just happen. They choose to pursue mastery.
So what causes someone to choose to become a true professional, a master craftsman? There are many reasons; here are a few:
- They believe they can become better, as a technician and as a person.
- They trust themselves to do the right things, so they’re able to trust others as well. (But they won’t trust those who don’t seem committed to improvement.)
- They want to make a difference, to matter to the world, and to help people.
- They love fixing things. Returning a machine to full, normal functioning feels good to them. They can see how learning new skills will help them fix even more problems.
- They want to earn the right to be proud of what they do and who they become.
- They want the admiration and respect of others.
- They want to leave their mark, to set a new standard, or excel beyond what others have achieved.
- They want to prove their critics wrong. “I’ll show you.”
- They want to be a valuable member of the team and a part of the “best shop” in their fields.
- They want to make the person who mentored them proud.
These are just a few of the motivations to become a master craftsman. Think about the ones that are true for you. Share this list with others and discuss what each of you could do to increase the level of professionalism and individual success for each member of your team.
What could you do to encourage someone else to pursue master level?
Jim Cathcart is a strategic advisor to ATRA and a regular contributor to GEARS . His newest book is The Self Motivation Handbook; order it on Amazon today. Cathcart.com
