3 MISTAKES LANDSCAPING BUSINESS OWNERS MAKE WITH COMMUNICATION

Running a landscaping business is not easy. With so many things going on, there are higher chances of having a miscommunication with your customer and your employees.

Do you want your days to run smoother?

If you want your landscaping business to be organized and have everyone understand your instructions and expectations, this article is for you.

1. Not Communicating Enough

I know you are busy. Everyone is busy. But you as a leader should be responsible for everything that is going on. A common mistake is when leaders assume that everything will be taken care of by an assigned individual. While that might be true, it does not happen always. It is important to communicate effectively. Let your foreman know what's going on and give each employee accountability.

Explain it in detail so that your employees understand what exactly they need to do instead of letting them jump to the job without any clue what to do first, next, and so on.

This also applies to your customers. You have to let your customers know when you will arrive at the job site so they are prepared too. Tell them what are the steps that you will make for the job so that they won't be surprised or confused if they see some mess or changes on the job site.

2. Assuming that You and Your Employees Will Remember Everything

I always tell my employees, "If it's not written down, it doesn't count." Write things down. Landscaping is a busy job. You can't put everything in your head and rely on your memory because there's a greater probability that you or your crew will miss something.

This is why it's important to have work orders and change orders so that you can track what's going on and what changes have been made. In our Million Dollar Academy, we provide our members with checklists, and systems and procedures. Doing this makes the job smoother and easier and eliminates the chances of missing little things.

3. Not Actively Listening

Listening is part of communication. Sometimes you just have to listen and stop assuming that you are always right. When talking to a customer, listen actively and if possible, take notes. This will make you not miss what is being agreed upon, whether it's a customer's instruction or a complaint.

This also goes down to your employees. Be open to ideas and listen to their suggestions and thoughts. Get a weekly meeting to diagnose any problem and see how everyone is doing. Getting your employees involved in communication is beneficial to the success of a business.