Jeannie thought she knew how to build a team.
After all, she and her husband had spent 30 years building a restaurant franchise — more than 30 locations across southwest Michigan. She knew how to motivate people, drive performance, and create a winning culture.
So when they sold their restaurants and bought a small residential cleaning business, she walked in thinking: “I’ve got this.”
But almost immediately, the ground shifted.
From Restaurants to Residential Cleaning: Two Different Worlds
Running restaurants meant fifteen people shoulder-to-shoulder every shift — high-fiving after the rush, cheering each other on, swapping stories over the fryers.
It was noisy. Fast-paced. Energizing.
Cleaning houses? Totally different. Employees worked alone, scattered across the city. No teammates. No buzz. No visible wins.
And the results showed. That first year, Jeannie printed 24 W-2s… and only 8 people were left at year’s end.
Turnover was crushing her. Morale was invisible. And trust — the invisible thread holding teams together — was fraying fast.
She had a sobering moment of truth:
“If I don’t fix this, I won’t have a business next year.”
The Leadership Gap Jeannie Discovered
Here’s what Jeannie realized: you can’t lead today with yesterday’s playbook.
What worked in restaurants (visible teamwork, group energy, shared wins) didn’t work in residential cleaning (solitary work, invisible wins, no daily connection).
To succeed, she had to:
- Rethink motivation.
- Rebuild culture.
- Reimagine how trust gets built when people don’t see each other every day.
How Jeannie Rebuilt Trust and Engagement
She didn’t quit. She adapted.
Here’s how she started turning things around:
1. Built intentional connection.
She scheduled regular team huddles so employees could see each other, not just her.
2. Created recognition rituals.
Instead of waiting for “big wins,” she celebrated the invisible work: spotless kitchens, glowing client notes, and everyday excellence.
3. Strengthened the “why.”
She reminded her team: they weren’t just cleaning houses, they were creating peace of mind for families. That purpose became glue.
The Lesson for All Leaders
Jeannie’s story proves something powerful: leadership is contextual.
The strategies that made you successful in one season may not serve you in the next. And if you keep recycling yesterday’s playbook, you’ll struggle to win today’s game.
Great leaders know how to adapt. Reinvent. Rewrite the playbook.
Your Turn
Think about your team right now:
- Where are you still leaning on “old plays” that don’t work anymore?
- What new approaches does your team need to feel connected and valued?
- Where is trust fraying — and how can you repair it intentionally?
✨ Leadership isn’t static. It’s an ever-evolving game. And the leaders who win are the ones who adapt.