There are some general principles that apply to just about any employer-employee relationship. If you want your car wash employees to perform their best, these are some of the things you should try.
Be generous with commendation – Most employees just want you to let them know when they are doing a good job. Positive reinforcement will encourage continued good behavior, even more so than punishing bad behavior.
Be accessible – Especially with your management staff, make sure that they always have access to you with a personal phone number. Don’t be afraid to take your top team members out to lunch once in a while as a reward for a job well done. It will also make you more accessible, and they will welcome your visits to the car wash rather than wondering why the boss is there.
Spend a little time working along with the team – You don’t have to learn every part of the business, but if the team sees you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty and get in the trenches with them, that will also make you more accessible. There’s nothing like seeing your boss refilling the cleaning solution to make you feel like you’re working together instead of working for someone.
Hold them personally accountable – Don’t punish the whole team for one person’s actions. Also, hold yourself personally accountable. If you make a mistake, don’t be afraid to let the team know it. It is a learning experience for everyone.
Reward team members without making it competitive – Rather than pitting team members against each other to see who can get the most sign-ups for the monthly car wash membership, create tier levels. Everyone who hits the level gets the reward. This encourages everyone to participate, even if they are falling behind.
When you treat your staff in a kind way while still holding them accountable for doing their jobs, you may find that it earns you respect, and maybe even some good friendships will come from it.
Car Wash Advice from the Pros
Car Wash Pro Designers offers plenty of tips here in our blog, but the most valuable advice comes along with our turn-key express exterior car wash projects. We don’t just design and build a stunning wash and then leave you to figure out how to run it. We train your employees and management team and give you all the tools that you need to succeed.