It is hard to find and keep good staff. How can you be a more effective manager in your plumbing business?
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Perhaps you are an established plumbing firm, or you have expanded enough to add another member of staff to your team. Whichever of the two, you still need to work with human resources, people management and deal with staff in a compassionate and respectful way.
The question is, how, exactly? Staff management is often a skill that plumbers pick up along the way through experience or through being mentored by another plumber. Everyone has their own management style, however, these tips will help you get the best out of your staff, no matter what your style.
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Choose the right person for the right job
From the get-go, you need the right person to work for you. This includes their experience and qualifications, but also their interpersonal skills (because they will be dealing with clients) and how well they get on with you and other staff that they will be working closely with. This first crucial step eliminates a number of problems you may encounter down the line. Next, check their references to ensure that you truly do have the right fit for your company. Take your time to get to know the prospective employee during the interview process and call them back for a second interview if you want to be sure you have the right fit.
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Communication is key
Too many times, the business owner finds out about problems that occur a lot later than they would like. This is often because staff may be afraid to share challenges encountered at the outset. This is most likely due to a break in communication. Be sure that you make your communication clear, concise, consistent and respectful. Ensure that your staff are aware that you are approachable and would be open to discussions with them surrounding challenges that they encounter. Sometimes staff feel that they will be “punished” if they are to voice their concerns or opinions. Get the communication right at the beginning. And, if you haven’t, don’t despair: you can always review your communication goals and reset.
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Clear policies and procedures
Make sure you have clear policies and procedures in place so that all staff know exactly what steps need to be taken in various situations. Communicate this clearly and reiterate it if necessary. Staff that know what they need to do, how to do it and what needs to take place in certain circumstances are more confident in what they are doing.
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Train them
You can help your staff by providing them with ongoing learning and development. This will help them improve their skills and add a few more so that they can assist on all kinds of jobs you are doing. And who doesn’t need an extra pair of hands, right? IOPSA offers insightful workshops and so do the PTE events – and these workshops are free. Training your staff shows that they are valued and that you are willing to invest in them as much as they are willing to invest in you.
The right staff buy into your vision, get the job done, and invest not just in themselves, but in being loyal to your company. People management is a two-way street, though. Effective staff management means that both parties need to feel comfortable talking to each other about pretty much anything. It’s all about the people – and the people get the job done.
References
- How to Effectively Manage Your Plumbing Company (servicefusion.com)
- Mastering the Flow: Plumbing Management Guide for 2023 (fieldinsight.com)
- 9 Management Tips for Plumbing Businesses in South Africa | Bi-me
