Wearing more than one hat

Office work counts as landscaping too

Kofi Myler

DETROIT, MI — Birds chirping. Bright clouds drifting in the sunny blue sky. 

It can be serene working a green-collar job. Pruning scented hydrangeas and manicuring lush grass lawns. I only wish the same could be said of the day-in and day-out office work that keeps it all moving along as a business.

Accounting, marketing, job canvassing, estimating projects, customer service needs. All of these can be tense burdens to bear for green entrepreneurs mainly accustomed to using their hands with gardening tools.

If I had it my way I'd hire a brilliant, team-oriented employee to tackle all of these administrative needs. And I then could focus on the variety of hosta to suggest to a client planning their first garden.

But hiring brilliant staff is easier said than done. The COVID-19 pandemic not only forever impacted our nation’s health but also our labor force. It made more sense for non first-responders to stay at home rather than risk their lives or that of their families. So for most industries, including landscaping, the cost of labor hit an all-time high. And it has yet to go down.

Aside from the Covid crisis, generally speaking, landscaping has never been viewed as an attractive occupation. Performing physical work outdoors in the hot sun, even if earning six figures, is not a lot of people’s dream job. Many job seekers in fact shy away from dirty and sweaty work, rather you are a successful landscaping professional or not.

My advice, instead of trying to win over a potential hire with an inflated wage, promote your company culture and then seek people who fit that. Do prospects have the right stuff to be an asset to your team? We at ABC Co. Landscaping seek those that are enthusiastic, reliable, ethical, and have good customer service skills. And too we spell out in our recruitment tools the kind of work ethic and character traits that we like.

We also express how we diligently work at fostering a healthy work environment to promote professional development opportunities and scheduling flexibility. Opportunities can range from learning to install paver walkways, training to become a foreman or crew leader, or starting your own landscaping business.

Below are some helpful tips for small landscaping businesses hiring for the first-time. These suggestions may not save you from the impending stress in getting just the right hire for your company but in all my years of business experience, these tips are a great guide for any novice.  

FIVE HIRING TIPS

• Recruit people already employed in the industry
• Seek prospects who are genuinely interested in landscaping
• Lead with your company culture when recruiting
• Seek prospects who fit your company’s culture
• Communicate what your company offers new hires

Feel free to join our new landscape enthusiasts group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/ilovetolandscape. Never miss a blog and subscribe to our email newsletter at www.abccolandscaping.com. ​#ilovetolandscape ​

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