When I started my painting business 16 years ago, I had no idea that it would grow to the stature our company is today. Building a company to become a sustainable business enterprise is a heavy lift and finding the right people to do it with you can be one of the biggest challenges. However, I was determined early on to reach out and bring in others who shared my vision, and who could help share the load.
As my company continued to expand and grow from a one- or two-person operation, I brought in people with a variety of temperaments and personalities. I determined to create a work culture in which:
+ both employees and customers were treated with dignity and respect.
+ the work/life balance of my employees would be honored and encouraged.
+ our hard work would become an opportunity to excel, to enjoy working together, and to experience the satisfaction of a job well done.
I quickly realized as an employer that an employee being skilled as a painter or manager was only one of several attributes I valued. I started thinking in terms of a three-legged stool, where each leg is essential for the stool to stand. I wanted people who were:
Leg #1: skilled painters
Leg #2: team players
Leg #3: a person of integrity
I began hiring differently, looking for all three attributes, while also having one-to-one conversations with any current employee who I felt could strengthen one of these areas. Someone whose skilled painter leg needs some strengthening is easier to train than someone who lacks integrity or doesn’t know how to work well with others.
Over the years Greenleaf Painters has grown and flourished, and these fundamentals have helped shape the company culture and have contributed to its prosperity. Sometimes, of course, I wish there were fewer things I needed to learn from scratch, fewer challenges when it came to figuring out how to find the best employees and retain them. However, it is true that with each challenge we gain some new insight which, in turn, makes us better and stronger. I am thankful every day for my wonderful team of dedicated managers and painters.
If you are a budding entrepreneur, or you are growing an existing business, I hope this inspires you to reach the next level with your team.
-Jonathan C. Shenk
