7 Important Keys to Being a True Professional in Your Commercial Cleaning Business
With a large number of cleaning businesses out there, how do you get your company to stand out? Being a true professional in all aspects of your cleaning business will go a long way toward showing your customers and potential customers that you are serious about doing the best job that you can do. Do you have the background, knowledge, and experience to become a professional? You bet! Doing the best job that you can do and having a professional attitude is what it takes to show your clients you go that extra step.
Are You a True Professional in Your Commercial Cleaning Business?
There are many factors that come into play regarding professionalism:
1. Professional Appearance: As a cleaning contractor you may not be wearing a suit and tie every day, but your appearance is still important and it can leave a lasting impression on people. While cleaning an account your clothes will no doubt become soiled; however, when meeting with clients you should always have a neat and clean appearance. If you're meeting with a prospect for the first time, you may want to wear a suit if the location is a Class A Office building. If you're checking in on your employees during their shifts, a company shirt with your company name and logo is appropriate.
Besides your personal appearance, your equipment, storage area, and company vehicles should be clean. After all, if your clients see that these things aren't clean, what faith will they have in your cleaning abilities?
2. Be Dependable: Your cleaning clients depend on you to provide timely services so their buildings are clean for their employees, customers, and visitors. Your cleaning technicians should show up on time and do the work as required. Your clients depend on you to not only clean but to do so without breaking items or ruining carpet, flooring, or furniture. If something does happen, you need to be a "true professional" and let your customer know you will take care of the damages and re-train your employees to ensure it doesn't happen again.
3. Be a Life-Long Learner: There are constant improvements in chemicals, equipment, and cleaning procedures. It is important to realize you can never "know everything", but be willing to spend a little time reading and learning what is new in the industry every week. Being a lifelong learner will work to your advantage and you will be perceived as an expert in your client's eyes.
4. Take Pride in Your Work: No doubt some jobs will be easier than others, but putting 100% into every job, large and small, can set you apart from the other cleaning companies in your area. There is nothing more satisfying to a cleaning professional than seeing a job well done. And conveying that sense of pride by training your cleaning technicians will improve your end results and make your life easier.
5. Treat Customers and Employees with Respect: Cleaning customers can be easy to work for or extremely difficult and demanding. It is always easier to smile and say hello to a friendly face, but it is just as important to be friendly to those demanding customers.
Although you may have started your cleaning company as a one-person business, once you have employees on board, treat them as individuals and valued members of your team. Ask for their opinions and be open to their ideas. Make sure that your employees know what you expect of them and that they too are expected to act as professionals.
6. Be Honest: Be honest with your clients about the services you provide and what those services cost. Stick by the guidelines set out in the agreements that you have with your clients. And don't be afraid to let a cleaning customer know there are services that you do not provide if you do not have the staff, equipment, or knowledge to do a job properly.
7. Model Ethical Behavior:
- Leave your personal problems at home and your work problems at work. Even if you work out of your home, make sure there is a separation between the two.
- Avoid the use of foul language.
- Don't eat, smoke or drink on the job.
- Stay out of desk drawers and file cabinets and don't read loose papers that are left on desks and tables.
- Don't take any items from customers even if it is something that they threw in the trash or a piece of candy in the dish at the receptionist's desk.
- Don't use a customer's phone unless you have permission to do so and then only in an emergency or if it is required for your employees to clock in and clock out.
Your cleaning company can stand out from the crowd by incorporating the above guidelines into its everyday routines and practices. A true professional is someone who takes pride in their work and is always willing to go that extra mile. Putting that little extra into what you're doing will show your customers that you are the best one for the job!
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