Episode #20 -- Quick Training Ideas for Cleaning Technicians
Cleaning business owners have a challenge because employees oftentimes get bored and have a hard time staying motivated. They eventually start slacking on the job and they may even compromise their own safety because they just don't care that much. Before you know it, the quality of work suffers and you lose employees because they're no longer engaged in their job.
This episode offers quick training ideas that will keep your employees engaged and motivated!
A few weeks ago I was engaged in a conversation with cleaning business owners about how to keep employees from getting bored on the job. We all know cleaning doesn't change a whole lot. We use the same systems from day to day, so employees get bored; they start slacking on the job, they may even compromise their own safety because they just don't care that much. Before you know it, the quality of work suffers and you lose employees because they're no longer engaged in their job. Even your best employees who are able to keep themselves motivated on the job need something to keep them engaged; and learning new things makes them feel as if they can continue to grow in their job.
One way to keep them engaged is to do mini training sessions. Now I'm not talking about scheduling a one hour training meeting that takes a lot of time and planning. I'm talking about doing short, regular training sessions that focus on one small part of the job. You could even give it a name, like "Tuesday Training", or "Wednesday Wisdom" or "Weekly Huddle". So before work starts, you gather your employees for a short, 10 minute training session. Now depending on how your your business works, you may or may not be able to gather ALL your employees at the start of the work day. If not, then you may need to gather employees in smaller groups. Another advantage to doing this is that employees will feel a part of the company. Cleaning can be so isolating, so it's important for your employees to feel as if they're a part of a group.
So what I'm going to do today is give you some ideas you can use right now to get started on training and engaging your employees.
Example number one: Understanding the pH scale. Many cleaning technicians have no idea what the pH scale is, much less that the chemicals they use to clean have a pH. So explain the scale and then explain how some chemicals that are acidic or alkaline can damage the surfaces they need to clean, so it's important for them to understand the difference.
Example number two: How to adjust a back pack vacuum for proper fit. Many people complain that back pack vacuums are uncomfortable to wear. But when you look at how they're wearing it, you realize that it's not adjusted properly, so no wonder it's not comfortable! Do a quick training session on all the different ways you can adjust the back pack so it fits comfortably.
Example number three: Caddy or apron organization. Stress the importance of caddy organization to your employees, explaining that every item in the caddy should be in the same spot all the time. That way, when they grab the window cleaner that should always be on the left side, they don't accidentally grab the all purpose cleaner by accident and take a chance of damaging the surface they're cleaning.
Example number four: Review some of the important sections of MSDS sheets that they should be familiar with, like the Emergency First Aid Procedures, Precautions for Safe Handling, and the Personal Protective Equipment section. If you train them where to quickly find the information they need on the MSDS sheets, you're giving them the tools they need to stay safe, which is going to save you money in the long run.
Another way you can do the training sessions is to make them more interactive. Rather than you doing all the talking, ask your employees questions about the topic to see how knowledgeable they are, and maybe reward correct answers with a small prize. Make it fun!
So these are just a few examples of short training sessions that you can hold with your employees. They serve a valuable purpose AND keep you connected to your employees. If you are a larger organization, get your supervisors involved in the training. Brainstorm a list of ideas with your supervisors so they always have plenty of topics to discuss. Your employees will enjoy it and they'll become better at their job too!
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