Mastering Employee Motivation in Cleaning Technicians
It's an age-old problem for cleaning business owners -- how do you keep entry-level employees such as cleaning technicians, motivated and performing consistently well in their roles? For upper level positions, successful performance is recognized with a high salary and bonuses. But for entry-level roles, these monetary incentives are rarely possible, so keeping employee motivation high is a challenge.
In jobs such as those in the cleaning industry, the problem is compounded by the difficult, sometimes tedious labor inherent to the position. This can make personal motivation difficult for some, and may require external assistance to foster consistent effort.
Employers have experimented with many different means of motivation over the years with varying degrees of success. From "employee of the month" designations to a multi-tiered system of promotions fostering rapid advancement, motivation for workers has always been a primary concern. Unfortunately, these systems have frequently proven ineffective -- or, at least, not effective enough. So what can be done to maximize employee motivation?
Effective Training for Motivating Cleaning Technicians
The solution might seem overly simple, and even counter intuitive, but the most successful means of increasing employee motivation is a comprehensive training program for entry-level cleaning technicians.
It's proven that workers who have invested time increasing their own abilities in their field through training will be more productive as they strive to apply their skills. It seems fairly obvious in the end -- after undergoing thorough training, employees will develop pride in their work as they begin to interpret their role as a "cleaning specialist."
However, one notable stumbling block cleaning business owners have traditionally faced is the high employee turnover rate common in entry-level cleaning technician roles. In effect, the mentality of most employers is, "Why spend time and money training employees who will just leave at their earliest convenience?" Thankfully, training has a positive impact on not only employee morale and productivity, but on retention as well.
Just think -- doesn't it feel more satisfying to have a solid grasp on your work rather than guessing? It goes without saying that people take more pride in work they know they are doing well. It's no different for cleaning technicians, who can view themselves more as indispensable specialists rather than as short-term, easily replaceable labor.
Most employees decide whether they wish to pursue a new job within two weeks of on-boarding. With a training program, employers will be able to quickly show their new hires just how committed they are to their improvement. As an added bonus, not only will well-trained employees stay longer, they will also perform better with their deeper skill sets enhanced by the training programs.
Maintaining Employee Motivation Down the Road
Once initial training has been accomplished, it's important to implement further strategies to maintain employee motivation, and ensure they're invested in their work. One inevitable reality of hiring is the occasional low-performer. If they've been exposed to training and had reasonable chances to improve but haven't, there's no reason to keep them. Underperformers lower the overall morale of a team, and can frustrate customers.
On the flip side, employers should make sure to have frequent one-on-ones with their top performers to make sure their performance is recognized, and their ideas can be brought out and shared with the team. Frequent refresher training will also help employees keep their skills sharp and recognize that they are important to the company.
Simply put, the most effective tool for enhanced employee performance, motivation and retention lies in an effective training program. By providing training to cleaning technicians, employers can increase their workers' skill set, self-confidence, and help them realize their value to the company. While some managers try to use other strategies, there is no replacement for a comprehensive training program.
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