Walls & Ceilings logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube youtube Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Walls & Ceilings logo
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Drywall
    • Stucco/EIFS
    • Ceilings
    • Steel Framing
    • Fireproofing
    • Interior Plaster
    • Building Envelope
    • Insulation
    • Technology
    • Interior
    • Exterior
    • Women In Construction
  • COLUMNS
    • Up Front
    • All Things Gypsum
    • Art & Craft of Plastering
    • Stucco Stop
    • Steel Deal
    • Industry Voices
  • PRODUCTS
    • Buzz Guide
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • BUILD Expo
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • BUILD26 Videos
    • Take our Quiz!
    • Infographics
  • EXCLUSIVE
    • Newsletters
    • Top 50 Contractors
    • Contractor of the Year
    • State of the Industry
    • W&C Store
    • Market Research
    • CEUs
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
  • DIRECTORY
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
    • 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.

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

Living Sustainable

A Day in the Life

Racing the Tide

On your mark, get set, go!

Tool Talk

Something to Consider

The Trowel Talk

Finish Line

Job Site Tech

Recent Comments

I appreciate the deep dive into the trickle-down...

The emphasis on measurable outcomes really resonates with...

I appreciate the insightful connections you drew between...

Really interesting perspective on how small business optimism...

The part about the 1 percent increase per...

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Newsletters
  • 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 Walls & Ceilings 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 Walls & Ceilings or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • medical professionals moving a patient on a stretcher through the halls of a medical building
    Sponsored byNational Gypsum Company

    What Does High Performance Mean When It Comes To Gypsum Boards?

Popular Stories

Linear Metal Ceiling Beam Baffles

Top 25 Ceiling Contractors of 2026

Wichita Biomedical Campus

Wichita Drywall Worker Dies After Scaffolding Fall

QXO Just Changed the Game-Here's What Contractors Are Asking

QXO Just Changed the Game-Here's What Contractors Are Asking

An interior drywalling work in progress

Boost Profits with AI Scheduling

Events

June 24, 2026

The Bright Side & Benefits of Designing with Integrated Lighting

Credits 1 AIA LU/HSW; 0.1 ICC CEU

This course will explore the pivotal role architects and lighting design play in creating safer, more sustainable spaces. Learn how to avoid common lighting mistakes and make informed decisions that create the best visual environment for occupants. 

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

See our full library of webinars

View All Submit An Event

Products

2026 National Painting Cost Estimator

2026 National Painting Cost Estimator

See More Products
×

Connect with the industry’s leading resource for unparalleled insights and education.

Join thousands of industry 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
    • Newsletters
    • 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 ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing