Many employers believe that money is the most effective motivator. Statistics state that money only motivates for three days. Raises get expensive and don't work as well as positive, non-monetary motivators. There are many other things that excite many employees even more than money. Positive motivation leads to a more peaceful and fun group effort and will increase productivity by building that "can do" team feeling. Employees are motivated longer when management uses positive motivators, non-monetary motivators and a positive personality versus using their position of power.
Having a trained and motivated staff is a three part process. Slighting any of the three would be like shortening one leg of a stool. The stool would become wobbly and eventually fall. You must
· Hire the best people
· Train them, then train them again, then train them again
· Communicate with them constantly in positive and motivating statements.
It never ceases to amaze me how much time is spent on teleconference calls regarding the recruiting of house cleaners and how little time is spent on these calls regarding the on going education and motivation of their employees outside of the day-to-day operations of cleaning. Developing a mature work force is rarely discussed. It is somewhat amusing to watch companies who have spent large amounts of time and money recruiting and training employees spend so little time developing a long term bond with these same employees.
When you lose an employee through resignation or termination you often find that you've traded one set of problems and talents for another. There is no such thing as the perfect employee, but there are perfectly trainable employees. The return on your training dollar can be significant, if the training is appropriate, adequate, ongoing and properly done.
Appropriate training refers to teaching employees the right skills for their job. Along with
cleaning skills, however, goes the need for people skills and self-management skills that completes the training triangle of your 3 legged stool. People skills include the communication skills of listening, questioning, offering feedback and getting along well with their peers. Self-management skills include goal setting, time management, organization, stress management and other self-directional skills.
Good people cannot be over trained. Once they've mastered their job, keep them motivated and growing by exposing them to other areas in their lives that could be positively affected through motivational seminars both on and off the job. You set an expectation for constant growth by constantly exposing them to knew learning experiences.
On another note, if you are currently dealing with one of those 'you cannot make them happy' cleaning staffs at the very least a webinar will give them something new to think and talk about.
If you have not exposed your cleaning staff to any of our
webinars I recommend you begin with your team leaders and our webinar
'Building a Winning Team'. This webinar takes the team leader through the 5 steps that a new employee embraces as they search for, and hopefully find, a comfort level at your company.
Take advantage of the above offer and treat yourself and your cleaning staff to a new, developmental, motivational and attitude-changing meeting. It's easy to use and a fun experience for your staff.
