by: Spiderwoman
Part of a new series of blog posts from the Super Heroes on the LMN Support Team.
Now that you’re up and running for the Spring season, the big question is, “how do I keep my field staff focused and driven?”. It’s hard being the owner of a landscape business, especially when your knowledge and expertise is needed in areas other than in the field. The temptation always exists to involve yourself in ongoing projects but the reality is, you have to keep everything in check – from the office to the field and there simply isn’t enough time in a day to do it all. So, what is the solution?
We know the desired results:
- Improve efficiency
- Reach or surpass goals
- Retain staff
Well, there are many ways to achieve these objectives, but there is one that is particularly effective. Train your staff to think like owners and provide them with bonuses and/or incentives. Here are a few steps you will need to follow in order to create a bonus system that not only helps your business, but also keeps your staff motivated and on-task.
Step 1 – Crunch Your Numbers
Create a budget to ensure you are recovering your overhead and of course, making a profit. Give your staff the seasonal goal and let them know that if they help you achieve it, they will reap the benefits (Use this chart or something like it to give your crews a visual). Your staff knows that they aren’t gaining any ground by performing warranty work, so they will be more careful and work more efficiently the first time around.
Once you have reached your sales goal and spending has stayed within your budget, you have successfully recovered your overhead. Any dollars earned over and above your target are pure profit, so why not use that as an incentive for your staff?
Step 2 – Reward your Crews
Now that you have successfully trained your crews to think like entrepreneurs, it’s time to reward them for it.
Let’s go back to your budget… What were your overhead expenses? Let’s say they were 25% of your sales. Now that you have surpassed your goals, you can use that 25% of every dollar to reward the staff that helped you get there. You are retaining the same profit as always, and your crew members are benefiting from the extra work sold.
Your employees will be happier and more productive and you have exceeded your expectations… A win-win for everyone involved!
