How to Find, Hire and Retain an Amazing crew.
Finding the right crew is hard. Keeping them? That’s even harder. For pro applicators, the challenges are unique: crews walk off the job, vanish for multiple seasons, or simply can’t be kept busy during the slow winter months. High turnover is expensive, frustrating, and can threaten your reputation.
But there are strategies that can help you hire employees who stick around and create a team that thrives, even in tough conditions. Here’s how to do it.
“If you take care of your people, they will take care of your customers, and your business will take care of itself.” – J.W. Marriott
Tip #1: Character Trumps Experience
Strong companies hire the right person, not just the right resume. Experience can be taught; character cannot. Look for team members with strong work ethic, reliability, and integrity, and invest in teaching them the technical skills. In the log home and staining industry, technical skills matter but so does perseverance. Your crew may be sleeping in a tent or trailer in tough conditions; those with character will show up and push through.
Tip #2: Lead, Don’t Manage
You can manage tasks, but people need leadership. Lead with clarity, empathy, and vision. Let your crew know you’re invested in their success, and they’ll invest in your business.
Tip #3: Flatten the Pyramid
Top-down command-and-control rarely works in this industry. Involve your crew in decisions, from scheduling to job-site planning. Giving them a voice makes them feel valued and builds loyalty, which matters when conditions are harsh or schedules are long.
Tip #4: Train for Replacement
Empower your team to lead. Cross-train employees so they can handle multiple roles. This not only keeps the business running smoothly but also gives your crew a sense of pride and ownership and that’s important when work is seasonal or challenging.
Tip #5: Forget About Titles
Leadership isn’t a title. It’s how you show up for your team. Be visible, supportive, and willing to get your hands dirty. When crews see you working alongside them, it builds respect and loyalty.
Tip #6: Care About Your Crew
Hard conditions and long hours are standard in our line of work. Small gestures like checking in, ensuring proper gear, providing warm meals, or rotating schedules so crews get a few days with family make a huge difference.
If financially possible, consider employing crews year-round, even if part of that pay covers slow winter months. Stability keeps your best people from leaving and reduces the headache of rehiring each season.
Tip #7: Authority ≠ Leadership
Authority lets you give orders; leadership inspires commitment. Employees will follow someone who respects them and genuinely cares for their well-being, especially in physically demanding or remote work conditions.
Tip #8: Use Emotional Intelligence
Fact — most contractors are transactional by nature, not intuitively relational. If communication and “getting in touch with emotions” make you squeamish, learning to get a bit comfier with your softer side will yield huge dividends in employee retention. Refine your communication skills and emotional intelligence; your employees will do the same with your clients!
Tip #9: Hire for Strengths You Lack
Don’t try to clone yourself. In a small crew, diversity in skills is critical: find employees who complement your weaknesses. This creates a stronger, more resilient team and reduces the pressure on you as the owner.
Tip #10: The Riskiest Tip is Your Top Tip!
Yes, the riskiest tip is often the best. Bringing in people who challenge you keeps your business evolving. It also builds a team that can make decisions confidently in the field when you aren’t present.
Extra Pro Tips for Seasonal Industries
- Rotate schedules so crews get family time. Happy employees stick around.
- Seasonal pay continuity: If you can afford it, pay crews through the off-season to retain top talent.
- Create a positive environment: Even simple touches like hot meals, clean workspaces, or a small camp setup make harsh work conditions more tolerable.
- Bonuses & recognition: Celebrate great work with small incentives. Recognition matters more than you think.
Finding and retaining a great crew doesn’t happen by chance. It’s intentional, consistent, and requires leadership that values both people and skills. Treat your employees like the critical part of your business they are, and they’ll reward you with loyalty, expertise, and results that make running your business smoother, even in the toughest seasons.
Want to dive deeper? Attend our next Zero Failures Business Focus Seminar to learn more strategies for building and keeping a winning team.
www.zerofailures.com
