He was about to lose his 3 best techs (until he tried this Monday morning ritual)

Yesterday I heard a story from a client that I had to share.

Mike, a shop owner from Dallas called his business coach in a panic.

"I just found out through the grapevine that THREE of my best techs are looking at other shops," he said. "One already has an offer. I had no idea they were unhappy."

Sound familiar?

Here's the kicker: All three techs had been with Mike for 5+ years. They weren't leaving for money. They were leaving because of something Mike never saw coming - they felt invisible.

One tech later told him: "You talk to me when something's broken or when I mess up. But you never ask how I'm doing or what would make my job better."

Ouch.

LESSON:

Mike learned something that changed everything: Exit interviews are autopsies. By then, your tech is already gone.

What he needed were "Stay Interviews" - proactive, 10-minute weekly conversations that catch problems while you can still fix them.

Here's the exact system Mike implemented (that kept all 3 techs from leaving):

The Monday Morning Stay Interview Process

Step 1: The 3-Question Check-In (5 minutes) Every Monday, Mike asks each of his top techs:

"What's one thing that went well for you last week?"
"What's one frustration you're dealing with right now?"
"If you could change one thing about your job this week, what would it be?"

Step 2: The Early Warning Scorecard (2 minutes) Mike tracks these 5 flight-risk indicators weekly:

Energy level (1-10)
Tool/equipment complaints
Customer and team interactions and overall mood
Initiative on jobs (taking on challenges vs. bare minimum)
Water cooler talk (engaged vs. withdrawn)

Any score dropping 2+ points = immediate deeper conversation

Step 3: The Fix-It Promise (3 minutes) Mike commits to addressing ONE issue each week - even small ones.

Week 1: Fixed the shop fan that had been broken for 6 months
Week 2: Changed the parts ordering process that was driving everyone crazy
Week 3: Started rotating who gets the gravy jobs

The Results After 90 Days:

All 3 techs withdrew their applications elsewhere
Shop productivity up 18%
Zero turnover in 4 months (first time in 3 years)
Techs started recruiting their friends to apply

One tech told Mike: "This is the first time in 10 years a boss actually asked what would make my life easier - and then did something about it."

ACTION:

This week, implement your own Stay Interview system:

Today: Put three 10-minute blocks on your calendar for next Monday morning
Tomorrow: Tell your top 3 techs you want to start weekly check-ins to make their jobs better (not performance reviews)
Monday: Ask the 3 questions. Listen. Take notes. Track scores.
By Friday: Fix at least ONE thing they mention - no matter how small

Remember: Your techs won't tell you they're unhappy. They'll tell another shop.

But 10 minutes every Monday? That's all it takes to know exactly where you stand.

P.S. Replacing one experienced tech costs $15,000-$40,000 minimum (recruiting, training, lost productivity). That's $1,500 per minute of your Stay Interview. Still think you don't have 10 minutes?

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