If you’re going to perform a job, it’s important to know how to do so correctly. Having that knowledge can be a huge boost to your confidence, as well as your performance.
But how do you learn the necessary knowledge and skills to complete a job and do it well? If you desire better confidence and want to improve your chances of doing quality work, finding the proper training and certification will help you expand your knowledge and allow you to master your craft.
Mastery is defined as having comprehensive knowledge or skill in a subject. Comprehension is expressed as understanding all—or nearly all—elements or aspects of something. By these definitions, it’s obvious that becoming a master takes a great deal of time, effort, and desire. Achieving mastery in the cleaning industry can be overwhelming without training and a safe place to practice as you work toward achieving your desired skill level.
However, once you do reach your desired level of expertise, knowing you have achieved something so many others have not is extremely fulfilling. You’ll also stand out from the crowd.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were more than 2.8 million cleaning workers in the United States in 2020. With cleaning worker turnover averaging 200% to 400% annually, the need for certified cleaning workers continues to climb. Since its founding in 1964, Cleaning Management Institute (CMI), one of the largest certification bodies in the cleaning world, is a great resource for furthering your training and becoming certified. CMI has certified more than 300,000 individuals worldwide and has furthered the education and development of cleaning and maintenance professionals, managers, supervisors, and executives.
If you plan to expand your mastery in the cleaning industry, here are some recommendations to follow:
- Focus on your desired skill. Become an expert by specifically pursuing one skill. Mastery requires intensity! Dividing your attention on various pursuits will only slow your journey. Steer away from being a “jack of all trades and master of none.” Some examples of expertise to be mastered include stone care, carpet spotting, and becoming a certified trainer.
- Commit. Mastery is a long-term journey that never ends. After all, mastery is the process of becoming a life-long learner. Those who don’t commit or quit during plateaus and challenges typically fail to achieve mastery. Masters remain steadfast for the long haul.
- Get going. While most people desire to perfect their craft, many people lack in execution. Becoming a master requires repeated action and constant intensity. Don’t get caught up in the day-to-day grind and distractions that are typical in the cleaning industry. Make a habit of scheduling time to practice your skill.
- Choose a coach or mentor. It’s critical to have a great coach or mentor. This should be someone who has been in your shoes of seeking mastery and has achieved that goal. Ideally, a coach should inspire you to be successful, provide sage wisdom during challenging times, and help you navigate throughout your skill progression.
- Have a support system. A supportive co-worker or leader that cares for your success and has your back can be very advantageous during your mastery journey. Stay connected with a circle of people that can pick you up when you fall and keep you humble when you achieve success.
- Want it! You must have a strong desire, backed up by a commitment to put in the work. Muster additional strength by realizing that many people before you have been through this. You can do it, too!
- Get inspired. Identify whatever it takes to get you going. Remind yourself why you chose the cleaning industry in the first place.
- Practice and repeat. The best way to learn something is to do it. Get obsessed with perfecting your craft through deliberate practice. Practice matched with intensity and commitment will make all the difference in your level of skill.
Mastering your craft will help you through the changes in your career that are inevitable and sometimes out of your control. In life and business, the only constant is change. You can depend on the fact that your current work situation is not permanent. At some point, you will move up in your job, take on greater responsibilities, switch departments, move to another company, etc. The list of things that will change in your life is limitless. Nothing remains the same. Execute these actions daily to build your momentum. Before you know it, the needle will move forward, and your confidence will fuel your pursuit in reaching whatever you choose to master in the cleaning industry.
