Episode 78: "Do Your Cleaning Technicians Feel Like 'Fish Out Of Water' Due To Your Lack Of Training?"

Many cleaning technicians often feel like a fish out of water due to a lack of training. Some cleaning business owners simply have the employee follow them around showing them what to do, or worse yet, have them follow around another employee that isn't “trained” to train another employee. If this sounds familiar, watch the video to find out what to do about it.

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Episode 78 - Video Transcription

Every once in a while I have really strange dreams. And last night was one of those nights. But it got me thinking about how this "fish out of water" dream can apply to the cleaning technicians we hire for our cleaning business. But first, let me tell you about the dream.

I was dreaming that I was a new employee at an optical center of all places. It was a busy Saturday and there were only two of us working. I was a brand-new employee, had no training, and was expected to know what to do. I have no idea how to adjust glasses, or how to do an eye test, or even how to run the cash register. They might as well have picked someone off the street and told them to get to work. I really felt like a fish out of water in my dream. And I know that this is how many new cleaning technicians feel when they start a new job.

Now we all know that cleaning isn't rocket science. You don't need a degree, you don't need a license or even a certification. And as kids growing up, we all had to clean up the kitchen, clean up the bathroom, and clean up our room. So shouldn't we all intuitively know how to clean?

Well as any experienced cleaning business owner can tell you, a lot of people have no idea how to clean! That's why it's our responsibility as the employer, to train our employees thoroughly, and give them systems to use while cleaning. So what is YOUR system for training new employees? Do you just hire someone and have them follow you around showing them how to clean? Or maybe you have one of your best cleaning technicians train the new employee without giving them the tools they need to do it successfully.

My challenge to you is; if you don't have a written training program, write one. If you don't want to write one, then buy one and use it. Every employee you hire deserves to have a chance to be successful in their job. And if you don't train them and give them the tools to become successful, then you have no one to blame but yourself.

So the next time you lose a cleaning technician, don't blame the cleaning technician. Instead ask yourself; am I the reason we lost that employee? What could I have done to make the experience better for that employee? I'd like to challenge YOU to challenge yourself to become a better employer and trainer -- starting today!

Now I'd like to hear from you!  Please share your comments by posting below the video at CleaningBiz.tv