Build Crews that Impress You

Up to 6% of a landscaping company’s revenue is spent repairing and replacing broken equipment. Well-trained employees know how to properly use their equipment to avoid premature wear and breakage. They can also be quickly oriented to new equipment when it arrives.

A formal training program is a proactive and positive way to ensure that work is done properly, safely and consistently. When your crew is properly trained, there will be fewer issues that escalate to the top, freeing you and other members of your leadership team to focus on building your business.

Well-trained crew members are more likely to do their jobs the right way the first time. It’s also more likely that customers will have the same experience, regardless of which crew members complete their job that day. In addition, well-trained supervisors/crew leaders will be able to address problems before they come to you. Consistent, high quality work and excellent communication are among the best ways to delight your customers.

Safety incidents do more than hurt your reputation—they hurt your bottom line by having a direct impact on your workers’ compensation premiums. Formal training will teach your employees about the hazards associated with equipment and the correct way to complete their work to minimize the risk to themselves and others on the property, which will result in fewer incidents, fewer claims, and lower premiums.

Formal training for your leadership team in coaching, motivating and communication will help you develop a positive workplace culture where people are more open and proactive about problems that may eventually cause them to leave you, giving you insight into what areas of your business need improvement.

Well-trained crew members will work more efficiently and make fewer mistakes, allowing them to complete jobs in less time. Well-trained crew leaders and supervisors will have the skills to motivate and coach their team members, increasing productivity and inspiring workers to come to work every day. When you formally train your crew, you decrease absenteeism due to poor morale and increase the number of people who can use specialized equipment and are cross-trained in all areas of your business.

A formal training program brings your new crew members up to speed, fast, because you aren’t relying on your crew leaders and workers to teach them while trying to complete their own work. If you put your training online, your new crew members can complete it prior to their first day on the job.

Formal training, especially when it is recognized with a certificate or diploma, is considered a workplace benefit. Formally training your landscape crews and leadership team will make them feel like you’re investing in their development as employees. People who feel valued are less likely to look for other opportunities.

A formal training program can help you increase the productivity of your existing team because there will be fewer mistakes, fewer customer service issues and greater efficiency on every job. If you still need to grow your team, having a formal training program makes you a more attractive employer because it’s proof you invest in your people.

Formal training, provided it is offered to every employee, helps ensure consistency in how work is completed because everyone is receiving the same messages about the “right” way to do things.

A new hire who is trained prior to starting work will be able to complete tasks independently much faster than a new hire who depends on co-workers and supervisors/crew leaders to teach them how to do their job. This eliminates some of the frustration and pressure that experienced crew members feel when a new member joins. They’ll see the new member as a contributor rather than a drain on the team.