finding good painters

FINDING GOOD HELP

1/5/2015

WHY: FINDING GOOD WORKERS CAN MAKE LIFE EASIER

You may have heard some business owners say that you need to hire 10 people to find one good one. Considering the investment and risk involved, those odds could sink you.

I've received good advice to 'stay small'. We all hear the stories of tradespeople that get super busy and start hiring. Six guys later, they are stressed to the max, out of money, their reputation sullied and they are busier than ever - mostly fixing and organizing and putting out fires.

In all honesty, this has been my area of greatest weakness and my biggest challenge. So I'm gonna share some tips that have worked for me recently...

Hire based on maturity not age.
Hire based on personality (honestly, reliability, patience, work ethic) not experience.
When hiring men, hire guys that are married.
Don't over-commit at the outset. Try them out for a day, then for a week, so on.
Define all the roles needed in your business. Sub out as many as you can afford that don't need to be done by you.
For flexibility, try to find people who can work as sub contractors (painters) or support services (bookkeeper).
Find painters that need the work as much as you need the help.
Put the word out to your circle of colleagues. People like to help connect. They know you. Let them filter for you.
Be clear about the type of person you are looking for. I need honesty, reliability, quality. I have wiggle room on punctuality, scheduling and experience. Don't expect perfection.
Communicate clearly and offer positive feedback as much as possible.

If managing people or larger projects intimidates you, consider taking some continuing education courses or online workshops on the subject.

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4 Comments

John Rousseau link

1/5/2015 08:29:34

Well said. My parents, who are industrial insulators, told me they are not hiring anyone without grey hair anymore... says a lot about the skilled labor shortage out there. Good tips for any trade looking to grow their business.

Simon Kuhl

1/5/2015 08:42:28

Thanks John. Yes, Mike Holmes would agree with you. There is going to be a post about that coming soon...

Chris Maier link

1/9/2015 11:24:51

I agree with most, but not all of your thoughts here. Perhaps it may depend on which trade you're in.
1. Personality can be a difficult trait to read in people as not everyone portrays themselves as they really are. It may take some time to discover exactly who an individual is.
2. Although it is true married men may be more reliable, I have found that they are also short-lived - they are quickly on to better and bigger things as they become available. Remember, there is a reason you are self-employed and not working for another and those with more responsibilities in life tend to seek opportunities that will provide them with more pay than you can offer.
Lastly, I completely agree with the clear communication - with both positive and negative feedback. It is as important to be clear about your expectations and needs as it is to give positive reinforcement.

Simon

1/11/2015 15:06:17

Thanks Chris for your viewpoint. I appreciate the dialogue and the various experience that readers contribute.

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