People are creatures of habit and are generally resistant to change. Therefore, getting people to change the way they act or do something can be extremely difficult. Many HVAC business owners and managers who have had to break employees of bad habits can attest. While, there is no exact scientific method for modifying employee behavior, there are a few common methods industry professionals swear by.
Lisa Ziegler, human resources manager for Environmental Conditioning Systems in Mentor, Ohio, said employees’ bad habits may be best addressed during the annual review process. “Managers should be discussing strengths and areas of improvement with employees. They need to make sure employees understand it’s a requirement to do things differently going forward with a specific follow-up date. The method changes when implementing new procedures. Communication is key when new policies are put into place. It’s important to explain the policy so it’s understood as well as to put in writing via email or by posting it for all to visualize.”