The technician in a dealership is the one person that a customer will believe unequivocally, says Peter Leech who spent more than 40 years in senior technical and training roles at John Deere UK.

 

“Which is why all technicians should have good communication skills explaining to the customer both the ‘How’ and ‘Why’ when undertaking repairs or diagnostics.”

 

He added that these skills were needed because, unlike car dealerships, many repairs are carried out on the farm or in the field ‘with the customer often "breathing down their neck".

 

In the latest episode of the Inside Agri-Turf podcast he joins host Chris Biddle to reflect on the value of mentors, either within or outside the company. Peter was credited by two recent podcast guests, Jeremy Gibbs of Forces Farming and Graham Thompson, former director of Deere and Co in the US as providing valuable guidance at various stages of their career. 

 

Peter also comments on the evolving nature of the agri-turf machinery market, given that he joined Deere UK when the average horsepower of tractors sold was barely more than a present day compact tractor!

 

Peter also recalls some the WOW moments in tractor technology and provides his thoughts on the most likely power sources for the tractors of the future – and oh, explains how he used a standard pencil to test the thought processes of trainees!