Saeli: Train to Gain: The Crucial Skill of Identifying Each Team Member's Training Needs

As a business owner, your team is your number one priority. Without a great crew that’s up to speed on the latest methods and practices, you will see your bottom line suffer. Getting to know each employee’s strengths and weaknesses will help you identify the kind of training they need.

Running a successful auto repair shop isn’t just about having the right tools and equipment—it’s about having the right people with the right skills. But even the most experienced technicians and service advisors need ongoing training to stay sharp, keep up with industry advancements and deliver top-notch service.

The key to effective training isn’t just throwing your entire team into a generic program. Each employee—whether they’re a technician, service advisor, or manager-has unique strengths, weaknesses and areas where they need improvement. As a shop owner, one of your most valuable skills is learning how to identify what training each team member needs and ensuring they receive it.

When training is targeted and intentional, you’ll see faster repairs, fewer mistakes, better customer service and higher profits—all while freeing yourself from constantly overseeing every detail of the shop.

Why Individualized Training is Essential in an Auto Repair Shop

Many shop owners either don’t invest in training at all or provide one-size-fits-all training that doesn’t address each employee’s specific needs. This can lead to frustration, inefficiencies and costly mistakes.

Here’s why identifying and providing the right training is crucial:

Faster turnaround times: When techs know exactly how to handle each job, repairs get done efficiently, reducing cycle time.
Fewer comebacks and costly mistakes: Proper training ensures that repairs are done right the first time, improving shop reputation and profitability.
Happier, more confident employees: Employees who feel supported and trained stay engaged and perform better. And this is great for retention also.
Stronger customer relationships: Service advisors who are trained in communication and sales can better educate customers and close more jobs.
More freedom for the shop owner: A well-trained team operates smoothly without constant micromanagement, allowing the owner to focus on growth.

How to Identify Each Team Member’s Training Needs

Every shop has employees at different skill levels. Some techs may struggle with diagnostics, while others are great at repairs but slow with new technology. Somes service advisors may have excellent technical knowledge but lack confidence when selling services to customers.

As the owner, it’s your job to identify these gaps and provide targeted training. Here’s how:

1. Observe daily performance in the shop
Watching your employees in action can tell you a lot about where they need help. Ask yourself:

Are certain techs struggling with diagnostics or new vehicle technology?
Do some employees work slower than others on the same type of jobs?
Are service advisors missing opportunities to upsell or struggling to communicate with customers?

By paying attention to where employees hesitate or make mistakes, you’ll get a good idea of their training needs.

2. Conduct regular one-on-one meetings
Your employees may not always tell you where they’re struggling unless you ask. Set up regular check-ins and ask:

What aspects of their job do they find most difficult.
Where do they feel they need more training or support.
What career goals do they have within the shop.

Some techs may want to become certified, while others may want to improve their diagnostic skills. By listening to their goals, you can create training plans that align with both their growth and the shop’s success.

3. Review work orders and job efficiency metrics
Look at your shop’s repair orders, comebacks and efficiency reports. Common signs of training gaps include:

Jobs taking longer than expected.
Frequent misdiagnoses leading to unnecessary part replacements.
High rates of customer complaints or poor reviews.
Service advisors struggling to close high-ticket repairs.

Tracking these metrics helps pinpoint who needs training and in what area.

4. Gather feedback from the team
Your other employees might notice skill gaps that you don’t. Encourage feedback by:

Asking senior techs which skills junior techs need to improve.
Having service advisors and technicians collaborate on ways to improve communication.
Conducting anonymous surveys about what training employees feel they need.

Creating an open learning culture ensures employees feel comfortable asking for help.

5. Use hands-on skill assessments
A great way to measure an employee’s skill level is through practical tests. For example:

Have a tech diagnose a vehicle with a known issue and see how long it takes them.
Ask a service advisor to role-play a customer interaction and assess how they handle objections.
Test employees on new software or repair techniques to ensure they’re proficient.

Real-world assessments help you pinpoint weaknesses quickly.

Building a Targeted Training Plan for your Auto Repair Shop

Once you’ve identified training needs, the next step is developing a plan to ensure employees get the right training at the right time.

1. Set clear, measurable training goals
Instead of vague objectives like “improve diagnostics,” set specific goals such as:

Reduce diagnostic time by 20% within three months.
Improve customer approval rates on recommended services by 15%.
Decrease comeback rates due to improper repairs by 10%.

This makes training results measurable.

2. Choose the right training methods
Different skills require different training approaches:

Hands-On training: Best for improving repair techniques, diagnostics and equipment usage.
Manufacturer or vendor training: Great for staying updated on specific brands and new technology.
Online courses and webinars: Useful for technical training, software updates, and compliance topics.
Mentorship programs: Pairing newer techs with senior techs helps speed up skill development.

A mix of these methods ensure employees learn effectively.

3. Make training a continuous process, not a one-time event
Many shop owners train new hires but neglect ongoing education. The automotive industry changes rapidly, and ongoing training is necessary to stay competitive.

Schedule monthly or quarterly training sessions.
Encourage employees to attend industry events and obtain certifications.
Reward employees who actively seek new learning opportunities

Keeping training consistent and engaging leads to long-term improvement and long-term employees.

4. Hold employees accountable for applying what they learn
Training isn’t effective if employees don’t apply it. After training sessions, monitor progress by:

Setting post-training performance goals.
Asking employees to demonstrate what they’ve learned.
Providing feedback and additional coaching if needed.

If training doesn’t translate into real-world improvement, it’s time to adjust the approach.

A well-trained team is the key to a profitable, efficient and customer-focused auto repair shop. As a shop owner, the ability to identify each employee’s training needs and provide the right education at the right time is one of the most valuable leadership skills you can develop.

By observing daily performance, tracking efficiency metrics, gathering feedback and implementing structured training programs, you’ll build a team that works smarter, faster and with more confidence.

And the best part? A well-trained team means you can step away from the day-to-day chaos and focus on growing the business, rather than constantly fixing problems.