Once again basic business questions are really simple at times, of course you want to keep the good ones. If that is true what have you done to tell them that? Here are some of the things you can do that are simple and often over looked;
These are some of the simple things that are over looked when you are interacting with your employees. You will note that pay them well was not there, that is a given, but if you want them loyal to the company make sure the list above is followed.
Feed them - nothing says love better than food, and I'm not talking about a bunch of sugary donuts here either. I once worked with a company that had a monthly breakfast, they cooked it on a camp stove because the break room didn't any way to prepare that much food. The service Manager served the technicians and the Office Manager served the office staff. They use disposable dishes so clean up was easy and the Owner cleaned up after have a late breakfast with the 2 managers. After 2 years the company discovered billable hours were up 14% on the weeks they had breakfast. during this 2 year period they also grew larger and were ready to move, at the new shop breakfast was twice a month, and the new break room had drinks and light snacks the were free.
Talk to them - I love it when I hear an owner say, "I have an open door policy and it works great" because I know he is wrong. If he stops to talk to employees every time they want to talk neither of them gets anything done. The talking I am using is more the idea that you never see them without some chit chat. Hi how are you, I saw that thank you letter from Mrs Jones, how is your kids ball team doing. that what I talking about. Let them know they are appreciated by telling them so. But work with your office door closed, and if you need to spend longer than just chit chat make an appointment, and keep it.
Work with them - There is great power in spending 1/2 a day in a service truck ride along. Here I said ride along, there is real damage if you give them the impression you are evaluating them, that job is for the "mean Service Manger". I have found service technicians really fall in love with a boss that is not afraid to get his hands dirty helping them. But there is a work of caution here you are goiing to find some of the things your people do you really don't like, if this is the case schedule training on it 90 days from now or have the service manager discover it.
Ask for their help - Once you start empowering your employees they will know what to do and when and your not going to ask them to help with that. I'm talking about asking them to help out with a late call, or coming in early in busy times, or taking time off when it is slow. Ask them to take care for shop tools, and let them suggest new tool purchases when the budget allows. Make sure they know your good venders, and ask them to work closely with them.
Now on another day we can talk about making sure your paying them well but for now let's try these things, I can promise you if you do these things both you and your employees will be happier.
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