When you’re building a team from the ground up using NexTech Academy, one of the most critical roles is that of the training leader, whose support ensures the success of the program. But that doesn’t mean the training leader does everything alone.
Training leaders also need the support of the students and other technicians participating in the training and team-building. Each training participant will be in different phases of their career, but everyone involved has skills and ideas they can use to create a stronger team.
Read on to learn about the stages of development that team members in a NexTech Academy training program will need to navigate as they grow together.
Novice
Novices have little-to-no experience – they’re new; green. They see the trades through fresh eyes and have a lot to learn about the craft and the company they work for. They have no measurable skills in the field and are typically paired with experienced technicians, often spending their days cleaning up or fetching tools or materials as directed. Novices ususally require the most instruction and oversight.
Helper
Helpers typically have a general knowledge of tools and materials, but have limited experience applying that knowledge.
Experienced Helper
Experienced helpers have a little more time on the job and knowledge under their belt; they understand the needs of their lead technician. Often, experienced helpers will have the items needed in-hand before the lead technician asks for them.
Novice Technician
Novice technicians are capable of doing simple tasks (basic diagnostics, easy repairs), but usually perform these tasks under the direct supervision of a lead technician.
Junior Technician
Junior technicians have enough experience to perform general tasks for their respective trades with little supervision. They may ask for assistance or have questions involved in situations outside the norm. Often, their biggest challenge is a lack of confidence in their own abilities.
When a student reaches this level of ability, running calls in their own truck is a real possibility.
Technician
Technicians are experienced with general tasks and have the ability to adapt those basic tasks to unique situations. The main difference between a technician and junior technician is often just repetitions and confidence.
Senior Technician
Senior technicians are highly skilled, with the ability to adapt to unique situations. There’s little they haven’t seen and don’t know how to handle; they are the “go to” people when complex issues and problems arise and need to be handled.
The ultimate goal in any organization is growth. What can you do to grow your team members? How can you expand their skills? How do you know when it’s time to consider someone a technician (versus a junior technician?) What’s the next step for a senior technician?
Because you’re a member of Nexstar, you have plenty of training resources at your fingertips. NexTech Academy has fully developed electrical, plumbing, and HVAC courses for your training needs. NexTech On-The-Go, the NexTech Academy app, is a powerful resource for group training or for a confidence boost while employees are in the field. Soon, NexTech Academy will be launching its NexTech Select training courses, which are designed to expand trainees’ skills in specific areas.
Ultimately, your team’s growth is up to you. You have the resources you need to build a team from the ground up. It’s time to commit to using them!
