Join Richard in this no BS Potty Talk episode where he debunks plumbing myth #2 that there aren’t enough plumbers to hire. Potty Talk #403
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Resources
3 Golden Nuggets
- Attract the Right Plumbers
- Let Them Plumb
- Always Be Recruiting
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Show Notes
Can’t find any plumbers to hire? Don’t worry; good plumbers haven’t gone extinct–you just might not be looking for them in the right places.
So, here’s my fail-safe blueprint for attracting, recruiting, and retaining top talent for your plumbing business. Just follow these 3 simple steps, and your plumbing business will thrive!
Cast a wide net
Starting a free Facebook group for plumbers in your area is a great way to broaden your recruitment pool. Create a group for plumbers only, no business owners, and start networking. Let it be their safe space to share work tips, flaunt their work wins, and unwind in a community.
From there, you can get friendly (but not friends) with the ones who stand out the most. Once you’ve created this community of talented peers, you’ve cast a wide net to recruit from.
Once you’ve identified the top performers in your group, you can start reaching out to them individually. Be respectful of their time, and don’t be pushy. Simply let them know that you’re impressed with their work and that you’re interested in learning more about their career goals. If they want to work for you, schedule an interview to discuss the opportunity further.
It’s important to remember that you’re not just recruiting plumbers; you’re recruiting people. Take the time to get to know the individuals you’re interested in hiring and make sure they’re a good fit for your company culture. If you do that, you’ll be well on your way to building a team of top-performing plumbers who will help your business succeed.
Don’t worry about “stealing” workers from other businesses. That’s just how business works. You’re not the bad guy for having a better offer that leads them to leave their job for a spot at your company.
Always be recruiting
If anyone ever asks if your business is hiring, the answer should always be yes!
You never know when you’ll need the extra pair of hands, even if your business is currently full and you’re not getting enough calls that require hiring more people.
Having a pool of qualified candidates on hand can save you time and hassle in the long run.
Being in recruitment mode all the time is simply better than finding yourself in a tough spot and having to start recruiting from scratch when you do need to hire new people. So, make recruiting a part of your company culture.
To go the extra mile, consider incentivizing your employees to recruit new talent.
Offer a percentage of the new hire’s salary to whoever recruits them (just a 1 or 2% is enough).
This is a win-win for both your business and your employees. It helps you hire new people quickly and efficiently, and it gives your employees an extra source of income. It also motivates them to recruit even more great people for your team.
Let them plumb
Now that you’ve hired your techs, resist the urge to micromanage them. Let them work their own way, even if it’s not how you would personally do things.
One of the most common reasons why plumbing business owners have trouble retaining employees is because they believe that their way is the only way to do things.
Of course, as a master plumber with more experience, you’re likely to be better at plumbing than most of the people you hire. But that doesn’t mean you should only hire people who are as good as you.
Instead, focus on hiring people with potential and training them to be at least 80% as good as you. Then, let them plumb!
Avoiding micromanagement is a great way to keep your employees happy and engaged and to reduce turnover. So, again, it’s a win-win situation for everyone.
By following these tips, you can create a work environment where your employees feel trusted and respected.
This will help you attract, recruit, and retain the best talent for your plumbing business–and will keep your business thriving!
Richard’s Call to Action
If you want to learn more about numbers that matter and how to best run your plumbing business, why not schedule a free 30-min strategy call with us? Let’s talk about your goals and where you want to be this time next year, and we’ll help you create a path to make that happen. Schedule your free strategy call here today!
