Training employees well is a critical part of any business, but is espe
cially so for small contractors
whose profitability depends on how many jobs they can get done in a day or week. Taking time to coach your employees and help them improve their skills will reap dividends for your company in the long run.
But not every contracting business approaches training the right way. Here are 3 of the most common mistakes that contractors make when it comes to training their employees:
1. Not focusing on efficiency
The speed at which your team can do the best possible, high-quality job is a key factor when it comes to training. Evaluate each of your employees and consider what level they’re at when it comes to the work they perform. Your goal with training is to teach your team to finish a quality job successfu
lly in as little time as possible. This will help your company book more business and make your employees more successful trade technicians, even if they don’t work with you forever.
2. Not calculating your time
Once you’re focused on efficiency, the next logical step is to track your time. Do some calculating to see
how long it takes on average for your business to finish particular types of tasks. Position your training in a way that helps them shave time off those tasks so that you can plan for more jobs each day. This is what will allow you to grow your revenue by booking more business. Just remember that some work can’t be done any faster, and never sacrifice quality, courtesy or professionalism in an attempt to make your employees work more quickly.
3. Not considering the true extent of the work
Remember that the work doesn’t end when your employee leaves the job site. You must also consider the way they carry themselves while interacting with colleagues, how they handle the company vehicle, the neatness of their appearance, etc. Your training should focus on teaching your team to improve their technical skills, but don’t neglect the “intangibles” of the job. Things like showing up on time, treating customers with courtesy, projecting a professional appearance and handling equipment with respect might not seem critical, but these factors add up in the long run.
Above all, small contracting businesses should focus on teaching their employees to be well-rounded professionals in their field. Contractors that decide to join a home warranty or home repair company network will usually benefit from receiving steady work, allowing them to more consistently help their employees learn and improve their technical abilities.
A final consideration: It is likely that your new trainees fall under the category of "millenials" -- roughly defined as those who were born between 1980 and 2000. Millennials tend to perform better in the long term if they see how their training can benefit them from the very beginning. They also respond positively to digital tools, such as online training and dispatch software, seeing the benefit and efficiency these tools can bring. Forbest Magazine did an excellent article on training this demographic -- you can read it by clicking here.
Training is just one of the important pieces of having an thoughtful employee training and development program -- but it is absolutely key to success!
To learn more about joining the HomeServe contractor network, check out our contractor portal.
