Editor's note: Al Levi knows what it takes to make your business run with less stress and more success. Contractors just like you seek his advice regularly. Al has agreed to let us share with PM readers some of the questions he gets and the answers he gives. The focus is strictly on problem solving and handling the day-to-day operations of a successful contracting business.

To send Al your own questions, which if selected will run anonymously, send  us an e-mail with the subject title "Ask The Experts" to Expert@PMmag.com or fax to 248/502-2110.

Vicious Hiring Cycle

Q. I've been able to hire some talented people, but after a short time on the job, they all act the same. They become so demanding, and I already get enough of that from my family. Eventually, it's so problematic that they either quit or I have to fire them, and then the process starts all over.

How do I get out of this hiring rut?


A. If you don't know how to recruit, hire, indoctrinate, train and retain employees the right way, you'll be stuck in this vicious cycle forever. To end it, stop hiring ready-made talent with bad attitudes and commit to building the training systems that allow you to take willing people and teach them the skills they need to do the work your way.

It begins with a comprehensive operations manual and checklists, and ends with the building of a training center and training curriculum. There are many ways to accomplish this and it can be done in stages, but ultimately it's the only way to say goodbye to the hire, quit and fire syndrome that is a natural result of trying to hire ready-made talent because you can't provide the training needed to build your own.