Episode 1245 – Tired of Micromanaging? Train Your Team to Think Like Leaders!
Why Team Leads Might Be Holding Your Cleaning Business Back
Mike Campion, host of the Grow My Cleaning Company podcast, tackled a hot topic this week: should cleaning businesses use team leads? His take? Scrap the idea altogether. He explained that when a business labels one cleaner as the “lead” and another as just a “team member,” it lowers expectations for the rest of the team. Instead, he recommends training every cleaner to take ownership of their work, making them responsible for delivering quality results without relying on a so-called “boss” on the job.
How People Rise (or Fall) to Expectations
Mike emphasized a key lesson he’s learned from coaching business owners: people rise—or sink—to the level of responsibility they’re given. If employees are constantly second-guessed or micromanaged, they’ll stop thinking for themselves. On the flip side, when business owners trust their employees and expect them to perform at a high level, they often step up and prove they’re capable.
The Secret to Hiring and Training Right
Mike also touched on hiring, explaining that skill alone doesn’t make a great cleaner—core values matter more. He’d rather hire someone who fits the company culture and train them than bring in a highly skilled cleaner with a bad attitude. Training should also be hands-on and fast, with new employees taking responsibility early on. Mike believes that when businesses trust their employees and expect them to perform at a high level, they step up. He used his own team as an example, pointing out that his right-hand person, Lindsay, grew into a leadership role because she was given the freedom to make decisions.
Stop Waiting—Raise Your Prices Now
A listener asked about raising prices on a commercial cleaning contract that hadn’t increased in 11 years. Mike’s response? Don’t wait—raise them immediately! He explained that price changes shouldn’t be based on how long it’s been since the last increase, but on whether the account is profitable. His rule of thumb: labor costs should be around 45% of revenue. If a contract isn’t hitting that number, it’s time to adjust. He also reminded listeners that clients who truly value quality cleaning will understand price increases, and businesses shouldn’t be afraid to charge what their services are worth.
Take Action, Don’t Just Listen
Mike wrapped up the episode with an important reminder: learning is great, but action is what makes the difference. Too many business owners listen to podcasts and take notes but never actually make changes. Whether it’s ditching team leads, raising prices, or training differently, the key is to try something new and make adjustments as needed. Want more help? Mike and his team offer coaching to help cleaning business owners implement these strategies and grow their companies.