Landscape Management, February 2010
Industry insiders say its grow or go time for slouches and grouches employees who under perform or have bad attitudes BY MARTY WHITFORD EDITOR IN CHIEF AND STICKS 7 FEBRUARY 2010 LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET PHOTO BY ISTOCK INTERNATIONAL INC they called him toothless Frank He didnt smile much for obvious reasons He was a perennial under performer with a national lawn care company He didnt seem to care what management wanted him to do But one day Franks manager sat down with him and said Were having diffi culty getting you productive Weve tried almost everything Whats it gonna take Teeth Frank replied And according to Bill Hoopes president of Delaware OH based Grass Roots Training Consulting thats exactly what they gave him new teeth and a new outlook on himself and his employer Frank turned on a dime Hoopes says Overnight he became one of the companys most productive and loyal employees The lawn care company didnt even have to pay for Franks new bridge and other dental work One of its managers simply asked his dentist to give Frank an extreme mouth makeover and accept an affordable monthly payment plan for the work For every turnaround story like Franks there are nine others with unhappy endings notes Hoopes who served as director of training for Barefoot Grass continued on page 12
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