What is necessary in an effective training program and how do you implement?

Most business owners are not born teachers!  Developing a fool proof, systematic training program is necessary and an important process for growth.

Training is the #1 benefit you can give employees and companies who fail to pay attention to this key element of growth feel the consequences in higher turnover, increased customer complaints and even an uptick in cancellations.

So what is necessary in an effective training program and how do you implement?  Let’s begin with a new hire training program:

Start by developing a structured, simple technical cleaning plan that includes:

·         List of technical cleaning topics – by room or task  EX: bathrooms, dusting, kitchens

·         Identify what you want them to know about each topic

·         Develop a simple outline with specific information- bathroom/kitchen cleaning – or dusting and vacuuming

·         Create simple one page written instructions for each task and in the order to be worked

·         Keep it simple, easy to understand and use graphics when possible

Decide how to present your program – classes, training supervisor, in homes, working training?

Decide where to hold the training

·         In your office

·         In customer’s homes

·         In friend’s home or office

·         Combination – class in office, “on the job” with trainer

·         Be aware that customers typically don’t want to be guinea pigs for training

Topics to include in your training:

·         Day 1 Orientation and On Boarding; Intro to company,  necessary paperwork, employee handbook and company policy handbook review, customer satisfaction standards, personnel and conflict issues

·         Technical training including tasks and room by room instruction and cleaning techniques

·         Review of specifications; basic clean, detailed/initial clean, levels of service offered

·         Supply and equipment training including chemical/product use, proper care of equipment

·         Safety Training

Teaching adults is very different from teaching children:

·         Visual – many need to see and cannot understand unless they see what you are describing (webinars)

·         Audio – many can learn by hearing and don’t need to see.  (teleseminars)

·         Kinesthetic – hands on learner, must feel, touch and actually do it. They don’t have patience to read or watch

·         Process is the same no matter what topic is taught:

>  Tell what you are doing

>  Tell how to do it

>  Show how to do it

>  Trainee performs task

>  Review the work

>  Praise and repeat

Adults learn at different speeds:

·         Begin slowly at first to access speed of learning

·         If you are too fast, employee gets discouraged

·         If you are too slow, employee gets bored

·         Keep engaged in what you are teaching

·         Make certain person selected to train is trained on “how to” train

Training is easiest when:

·         Employee understands “why” they are doing it this way

·         What they are learning is relevant to the job

·         They are treated with respect while learning

Monitor progress daily, weekly and then monthly.  Follow up is essential to effective training. The time and effort you put into training employees will come back to you many times. The result of NO training or poor training will cost you many times what you would have spent in training properly.

Sharon L. Cowan CBSE is a speaker, author and industry expert with over 27 years in the business. She provides consulting and growth strategies to cleaning business owners globally. She is the former President of a regional commercial and residential cleaning company which she successfully sold in early 2000s.  Sharon can be reached at www.cleaningbusinessconsultinggroup.com   Sharon@cleaningbusinessconsultinggroup.com or 772-563-7320.