I use my free time on the job to write, play music, create art and some video games.
Just enjoy the decline.
I use my free time on the job to write, play music, create art and some video games.
Just enjoy the decline.
So, I hire techs, which puts me on the other side of the table in this discussion. :)
My challenge:
- I need to create processes that are repeatable with VERY low error rates. I need them to bat 100/100 because failures are very costly. By the nature of it, this makes the work dull.
- But, I need to hire people smart enough to know what do when the exception occurs. Which happens all too often in the real world.
... So, I'm fully aware that I've got smart guys doing dumb jobs.
See the challenge?
My personal solution to this:
- If my tech has curiosity and ambition (maybe he is in night school for a 4 year engineering degree or is taking coding classes on the side), then I make it a priority to treat him like an engineering intern. I try to give him at least 25% of his job as the equivalent to junior engineering projects. Stuff that will challenge him, and he will be thinking about the 25% while he is working on the 75%.
- If my tech has zero ambition, then I leave him be. I usually 'test' each tech with a small side project. If they clearly don't enjoy it or struggle with it, then I don't push.
About 2/3 of my techs get hit with these extra projects to varying degrees and depending on their skill and aptitude. They are hourly, so it is all paid. I don't make a big deal about it. Most probably don't recognize that I'm being intentional with this. They just see that I need help with random process improvement / quality control / technical writing / etc. projects. (All of which would normally be done by the engineers.)
IMHO, this makes for a better work environment. I've got smart guys doing the work that would cost me more if I paid a degreed engineer to do the same task ... and their minds are engaged. Win-win.
I'd be curious if you have other ideas for improving this?
I'd be equally curious what would happen if you approached your boss and asked for 'side work'? (Such as: "Hey - I noticed these manuals are out of date. Mind if I spend 6 hrs next week re-writing them?") I feel like I have better vision than most people in my position, and that others would balk at the idea of taking someone out of one box and putting them in another box. But who knows?
So, I hire techs, which puts me on the other side of the table in this discussion. :)
My challenge:
- I need to create processes that are repeatable with VERY low error rates. I need them to bat 100/100 because failures are very costly. By the nature of it, this makes the work dull.
- But, I need to hire people smart enough to know what do when the exception occurs. Which happens all too often in the real world.
... So, I'm fully aware that I've got smart guys doing dumb jobs.
See the challenge?
My personal solution to this:
- If my tech has curiosity and ambition (maybe he is in night school for a 4 year engineering degree or is taking coding classes on the side), then I make it a priority to treat him like an engineering intern. I try to give him at least 25% of his job as the equivalent to junior engineering projects. Stuff that will challenge him, and he will be thinking about the 25% while he is working on the 75%.
- If my tech has zero ambition, then I leave him be. I usually 'test' each tech with a small side project. If they clearly don't enjoy it or struggle with it, then I don't push.
About 2/3 of my techs get hit with these extra projects to varying degrees and depending on their skill and aptitude. They are hourly, so it is all paid. I don't make a big deal about it. Most probably don't recognize that I'm being intentional with this. They just see that I need help with random process improvement / quality control / technical writing / etc. projects. (All of which would normally be done by the engineers.)
IMHO, this makes for a better work environment. I've got smart guys doing the work that would cost me more if I paid a degreed engineer to do the same task ... and their minds are engaged. Win-win.
I'd be curious if you have other ideas for improving this?
I'd be equally curious what would happen if you approached your boss and asked for 'side work'? (Such as: "Hey - I noticed these manuals are out of date. Mind if I spend 6 hrs next week re-writing them?") I feel like I have better vision than most people in my position, and that others would balk at the idea of taking someone out of one box and putting them in another box. But who knows?
Your approach works well in most industries. For me, it was my appliance repair business. I hired and trained 5 family members and let them do the jobs for which each showed aptitude. The one who showed the most drive and ambition was given the company when I chose to retire. The rest were given work I knew they could handle. One other wanted to earn more and went on jobs with others to learn new techniques. Man, those were good times.
Your approach works well in most industries. For me, it was my appliance repair business. I hired and trained 5 family members and let them do the jobs for which each showed aptitude. The one who showed the most drive and ambition was given the company when I chose to retire. The rest were given work I knew they could handle. One other wanted to earn more and went on jobs with others to learn new techniques. Man, those were good times.
(post is archived)