Two Tips to Building Relationships in the Cleaning Business
What You’ll Learn
- Give a good morning greeting to people in the building
- Look people in the eye when passing
- Set an assumption that new people mean well at first
Short Summary
Small greetings in busy buildings can lead to more cleaning jobs. When the team walks past people without hello, the company feels distant over time. Some customers pick a different cleaner later when the team stays quiet. A simple good morning shows respect right on a first meeting. Looking people in the eye while passing also helps people talk back. When the owner takes the first step, staff often follow too. Treating new people as decent at first makes greetings easier. Start each visit with a quick hello to people nearby each time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does saying hello help win more cleaning work?
Yes, a simple hello can matter for cleaning work. People often hire the company that greets them first.
Who should the cleaning team greet in a building?
Greet anyone seen in halls or lobbies. Keep the greeting short so work stays on track.
What if someone does not reply to the greeting?
Still give a polite good morning, then keep walking. Move on without pushing talk with that person.
Why does looking people in the eye matter?
It shows attention and respect during a quick pass in halls. It also makes talk feel normal for new people.
What if a new person later acts dishonest?
Stay polite, even when the person acts dishonest. Judge the person by clear actions over time.
Transcript
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Hi there. Welcome back. Dan again from CleanGuru.
I have two suggestions. They may not first feel like things about the cleaning business, but if you hang in there with me, I think you’ll see they have a heck of a lot to do with the cleaning business.
The first suggestion is something I personally run into, and maybe you do too. Have you noticed that you walk by so many people and everyone often seems like they’re looking down, or they’re distracted, or they’re a little wary of you? If you’re just walking by someone, or you’re meeting someone in a building, just say good morning and maybe meet their eye versus looking away. Sometimes, of course, when you’re going in a building, you’re actually shaking hands, so extend your hand.
But even just walking by people or meeting people in a building, just say good morning. I know it seems like such a simple thing, but have you noticed there are lots of folks that don’t? And there are lots of folks you could get to meet, and you’d like to have them in your circle of friends and your circle of business friends if you had the opportunity. The opportunity is by taking the initiative, right? By taking the initiative.
When we do these things, it just tends to activate people. It sparks them, and then they respond. I am convinced that 99% of people are good, and if you activate that and allow them a safe place to interact with you, you really can have some nice interactions, and you get to meet some great folks. Same thing applies, of course, in the cleaning business, as you can imagine.
The other thing I wanted to mention: I heard the other day someone mention something, and I think it was real. When you’re first meeting someone, try to put them in the best light in your mind. Think of them as an old friend, a trusted friend. You’re going to get to know them, and you’re going to look out for their benefit. So we’re going to give them the benefit of the doubt—an optimistic approach to them, a positive light. Now, if they prove otherwise, that’s different. But we’re going to try to meet this person in the very best way.
If we think of them that way—that we’re trying to be helpful and that we assume they’re a pretty good person—then the idea of taking the first step to say, “Hello, how are you?” and meeting them isn’t so scary or hard, when we know that it’s someone we may very well get a chance to like.
And in business, as you know, getting to know friends—getting to know friends in a building you’d like to clean—well, that’s how trust and relationship is built. So it has a lot to do with adding and growing clean business accounts.
Till next time, remember: you can do this. You really can.
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