4 Actions for Building the Best Team in the Field Service Industry

In the lawn and landscaping industry, finding employees is hard enough.

But finding the best employees is even harder.

When you turn around to look at your team, you can't help but compare them to your competition. Your competitors have huge athletes, but your team is made up of scrawny, out-of-shape guys who forgot to wear their uniforms.

You Don't Stand a Chance without a Good Team at Your Back

If you read last week's post, then you know what your goals are:

• Crush your competition
• Amaze your supporters (Clients and Leads)
• Score more (make more $$$)

The first step to achieving any ONE of these goals is to have the best team possible on your side. Some business owners try to do it all on their own, but when was the last time you saw a coach carry the ball into the endzone?

Here are four actions you need to take when you want to hire and keep the best team in the field service industry -

1. Market Yourself. You've probably spent tons of time, effort, and money trying to get new Clients. You've built better marketing skills, and by now you know some things that work, and some things that definitely don't.

So why aren't you marketing yourself to new Employees?

The best team for your service business is out there, and they're ready to work TODAY. But they will never know you exist unless you market to them. Go put on your company 'jersey' and start scouting new talent before your competition picks them up.  Here are some ideas to get you started -

• Canvas the local hardware stores and apartment complexes
• Put out fliers and door-hangers
• Ask your equipment suppliers for names

(Need more advice on how to grab the BEST players you can? Check out Dr. Bradford Smart's book, Topgrading.)

2. Look like a Professional. The best players aren't looking to be recruited by the local peewee teams - they want to play for the Major Leagues.

If your company looks like it's operating out of the shed in your backyard, how many people do you think are going to jump at the opportunity to work for you? Get your act together, get a website, and find the right software for running your service business. 

Use uniforms (even if you only make your employees wear the same kind of jeans and white shirt), and make your advertising look as good as it can. Let your future players KNOW that you mean business.

3. Train Your Team. How do you expect your team to know the playbook if you never train them on it?

After you hire some new people, get them started right away with training. Teach them what they need to do, teach them how to go above and beyond, and start leading by example.

On top of that, if you've been teaching yourself how to run a better business, make sure you share that knowledge with your team. Your team is your ticket to victory - don't keep them out of the loop.

4. Keep ONLY the Team Players. Some people look great on paper. They can run faster, jump higher, and score more. But you never see them passing the ball, and after the game is over, you hear them bad-mouthing the other teams. Or worse, insulting their OWN team.

These are the wrong people to keep in your business. If you've got people who are always late, or aren't fitting in, think about getting them off the team.

Your team is going to be out in the field, mowing lawns, cleaning houses, and interacting with clients. You don't want people who will give your company a bad name, for any reason. It doesn't matter how bad they need the job, if they are not improving your team, they're bringing your team down.

Don't hurt the rest of your team for one player.

A good team will take you far, and once you've found the right players, it's your job to keep them happy. Do what you can to make their lives better, and help them become better people - you never know how far your team might take you.

Related: How to Find and Hire the Best Landscaping Employees