In this business, one day you are mowing the lawn and mulching the flower beds and the next you are buying a truck and your own equipment. The Green Industry is a way of life. Employees very often turn into owners. It is a safe bet that every owner has worked as a landscaper before he/she started his/her own company. So, how do you become a team leader from a landscaper?
There are five simple ways to become a boss.
Thank Employees for the Work They have Done
Employees that feel important and noticed are employees that stick around and continue to do good work. The thank you could be for anything from arriving on time consistently to a complex landscaping design. Don’t take anything for granted. Some companies may go as far as to feature hard working employees and reward their work with gift cards or lunch.
Be Willing to do Some of the Unappealing or Tedious Jobs Yourself
Of course bosses are busy running the company. However, employee respect will be built if they see you aren’t above doing the dirty work. The key is not to be too good for any task. Rather than observe at a job site, pick up a shovel. This will gain admiration and establish a work standard. If your employees see you working hard, they will too.
Communicate Expectations &Â Resolve Problems Immediately
Develop detailed job descriptions and communicate them with each employee. No one should be left in the dark. Merely having expectations in your head will not allow your team to satisfy you. Because they are not mind readers, having a clear policy set in place will keep employees accountable. When problems arise, approach them in a calm manner. To have a smooth running company, problems must be addressed in a timely manner. Have a plan of resolution put in place and realize that not all problems can be resulted happily for both parties. If given proper cause, some employees will have to be fired. Although this may be hard, your company culture will improve along with productivity.
Be Approachable.
Be someone your employees feel comfortable confiding in without repercussions. You can appear unapproachable with moodiness, defensive and angry responses, and lack of interest. Instead of responding in this manner, choose a quite place for you and the employee to talk. Keep eye contact, really listen, and keep a cool tone. Even if an employee is wrong, respect him or her enough to hear them out and take the time to go through the situation with them. Be open to suggestions and new ideas. Knowledge is power and more minds means more ideas that could better your company!
Be Genuinely Concerned About Employees’ Welfare
Employees are more than just working drones. They work hard for your benefit so be sure to have some personal connection with them. Their lives are filled with family and friends just as yours is and work is not their entire life. Be interested in them personally and be as generous as you can afford to be. You want them to know they are important to you.
You can’t run a successful company without your employees. Be constantly working to accomplish these qualities. It goes back to the simple rule: treat your employees the way you want to be treated.
