search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
      • Enter Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
      • Enter the Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!

5 Ways to Improve Your Staff and Build Profits Right Now

May 31, 2009
These slow times are a perfect time to upgrade your staff.

These slow times are a perfect time to upgrade your staff.

Face it! You’ve probably been behaving like a hostage whenever your employees during the good times would come knocking on your door at the end of the day to say, “Do you have a minute?” We both know what comes next. It’s only a matter of how much money they want to stay or to let you know they’ve already decided to jump ship for more money.

It’s not that it can’t happen today. But, you can finally have the guts to be proactive about who stays and who goes. Even at the best of shops I’ve been lucky enough to train over the years there are always underperformers that they’re dying to get rid of but just afraid to do so.

Here’s what I recommend in good times or bad (but especially in trying times like these): Always be recruiting, hiring, orienting, training and retaining. What we want are the willing ones.

Just because you’re in the process doesn’t mean you have to hire anyone, but suppose a more qualified or better yet a more willing person came in. Wouldn’t your company benefit by having the right people on the team and the wrong people gone? You bet you would!

The trick is to be proactive and to have a formalized step-by-step process from when, where and how to recruit – a rock-solid hiring process, a written orientation process that gets them up to speed and fills their holes fast, training that’s ongoing to keep them great at performing their tasks according to their written job description (better yet, a written operations manual).

The last step is to stay in touch with them constantly to sniff out whether they’re happy or shopping around once we know we want them to stay. This is all about being good at retaining. And retaining is providing a “career not just a job.” Without a career, they’ll feel stuck and you’ll either lose them or they’ll stay without any bringing you their heart. You need an Org. Chart that shows them where they are today and where they can go as the company grows.

All of this has a DRAMATIC effect on your top line sales and your bottom line profits.

Note: If you’d like a copy of a basic Org. Chart, e-mail me at al@appleseedbusiness.com and I’ll be happy to send it along.

ANNOUNCEMENT
Give Me 60 Minutes And I'll Show You The Secrets To Running A Profitable Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, Carpentry, Electrical or any other Service Business ... Even During A Recession!

Al Levi is a consultant and a contributing editor to PM magazine and blogs for many other BNP trade magazines.  Al is presenting a free online video seminar called the “60 Minute Recession Solution” Online Video Seminar.

For the first time ever, you’ll hear from him and just a few of the many contractors who have engaged the power of the Power Programs. They’re happy to share how this dynamic program worked for them and how it is still working for them, especially in these tough economic times.

Al said, “This program has helped dozens of business owners who I’ve worked with one to one. The Power Plans have also helped. But now thanks to new technology, I’ll be able to help many more contractors with my 12 Month Power Plan Coaching Program than ever before. This program will include the building of their own customizable Operating Power! manuals.” 

These programs have been working for Al in his family business for years, in his clients’ businesses and now they are reaping the results. Click on the following link to learn more so you can see and hear for yourself: www.60MinuteRecessionSolution.com

Share This Story

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Blog Topics

Damato of the Day

Guest Blog

Recent Comments

Justin Bieber’s purple hoodie is an iconic piece...

It's fascinating to see how virtual trade shows...

This update is a game-changer for flat...

This is a timely conversation for residential...

Safety is No1

Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

QXO closed its acquisition of Beacon Building Supply on April 29, 2025.

QXO Closes Beacon Acquisition, Rebrands Immediately; Jacobs to Ring NYSE Bell

New executive orders signed by President Trump will likely further constrict an already tight labor market for the construction industry.

New Executive Orders Will Further Squeeze Labor Force

A bill under consideration in the Louisiana State House would bar roofing contractors from helping homeowners file or negotiate insurance claims.

La. Weighs Banning Roofers from Assisting with Insurance Claims

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

May 22, 2025

Remote Teams 101: The New Way to Hire

Our industry experts will guide you through what remote hiring and outsourcing should look like, how it can help you grow, and why it’s easier (and less scary) than you might think. If you want to save time, find great talent, and grow your business, this is one session you don’t want to miss!

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing