Training your team is crucial to your company’s success—that’s why I always say training is an investment, not an expense. But the social-distancing practices the coronavirus has forced us all to adopt may mean you have to take a different approach than the one you’re used to.
At Grunder Landscaping, we would typically be conducting weekly hands-on sessions with our team at this time of year. Instead, we’re holding a safety tailgate every morning, with our team members gathered in small groups and everyone at least six feet from one another. We run through a checklist of our newly enhanced safety protocols, and then each team member signs off on forms stating that they’ve heard and agreed to the steps we’ve outlined.
I am seeing a lot of companies in our area who are ignoring the state of Ohio’s safety directives, and in addition to putting people’s health at risk, they’re putting their company’s reputation on the line. In my opinion, it’s just not smart, and it’s not smart business, either.
For landscaping training, we are relying on our team leaders demonstrating—again, at a safe distance—to their crews how to perform any tasks they’re new to while they’re on the job site. In the coming weeks, we plan to add to this with videos we’ll post to our internal Facebook page. If you’ve got a newer smartphone with a good-quality camera, you’ve essentially got your own video studio in your back pocket. You may not be Steven Spielberg, but you might be surprised by all that you can do—and if you add in a gimbal or tripod and a lavalier or wireless microphone, your videos will be even better. You can find all these tools online, and they don’t have to cost much.
As with all training, keep these best practices in mind:
Focus on a single topic or two. Be clear and concise; don’t try to cram in everything under the sun in one go. Outline what you’ll say ahead of time to keep yourself on track.
Engage your audience. Be enthusiastic; good attitudes are contagious. Tell a joke or two if you’ve got them—we could all use a laugh these days.
Reinforce, reinforce, reinforce. Close your session or video by recapping what you’ve just covered. Share photos on an internal Facebook page of your team members applying what they’ve learned on job sites, or post additional tips on the topic. Start your next session or video with a review of your last. And make sure your team leaders are working to positively reinforce in the field what you’ve taught. Most of us learn best by doing, over and over again.
Stay safe, train well, and have a great week!
Marty Grunder
President & CEO
The Grow Group & Grunder Landscaping Co.
P.S. On Thursday, April 30, at 2 p.m. ET, I will co-present a free webinar on how to drive sales and market now with Aspire Software Company cofounder Kevin Kehoe. Tune in for practical tips and tactics—you can register now here.
Recharging Your Sales and Marketing Efforts
Thursday, April 30, at 2 p.m. ET
When an economic downturn or recession hits, there’s a tendency for companies to panic, and to cut back on their sales and marketing. But sales are to a business what gas is to a car: Without them, you aren’t going anywhere.
Hosted by Aspire Software cofounder Kevin Kehoe and Grow Group CEO Marty Grunder, this webinar will provide practical strategies and tactics for calibrating your sales and marketing efforts. Studies have shown that companies that focus on improving their operational efficiency while also investing in sales and marketing fare the best in a changing market.
How to calibrate your sales strategy
Ways to build and strengthen customer relationships
How to train, manage, and motivate your sales team
The power of a digital marketing strategy
The importance of your company reputation