A reader writes: “I am growing weary of having to train and re-train workers who don’t get the cleaning business. How can I get off this merry-go-round and simplify my life?”

Training is a very necessary part of our job since it helps us to be more productive, keep costs down, reduce/avoid unnecessary accidents and injuries and actually can reduce turn over in our staff. The story is told of a couple that had been married for 50 years and went to counseling. The counselor asked the wife what was her primary concern. Her response was: “He never tells me he loves me anymore.” The counselor then asked the husband: “Is that true and if so why don’t you tell her that he loves her more often?” The husband replied: “I told her I loved her 50 years ago when we married and I haven’t changed my mind!!!!”

Needless to say, most of us need to hear concepts more than once to be assured of our value to the company and what is considered best practices. I cannot stress enough to you the importance of patiently repeating key concepts on a regular basis to your staff so that they are reinforced in the right way of performing tasks. A side benefit is that if you train your current crew, they may feel valued enough to stay around a little longer thereby reducing your need to start all over again and again.

My final recommendation to you is to take a break from the grind and find a fresh approach to a necessary task that has become a burden. Go back in your memory to the days when you were excited about your vocation and excited to introduce people to your line of work. Tell your workers (new and old) that you value and care enough about them to provide the best training they will ever receive.

Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean...

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net


posted on 10/28/2016