Keeping subs on track without losing your mind

Title: Keeping subs on track without losing your mind

That’s funny, I’ve literally texted photos of the whiteboard to a couple guys who “forgot” to check it. It helped, but I still had one guy claim he never saw my message—guess there’s always someone. In my experience, the stubborn ones only respond when you tie their paycheck to following instructions... not always possible, but nothing else seems to get their attention. Some folks just don’t want to be managed, no matter how many reminders you send.

Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve had subs who’d walk right past a giant sign taped to the door and still claim they “didn’t know” about a change. It’s wild. I’ve tried everything from group texts to color-coded schedules, but there’s always that one guy who just tunes it all out. Tying instructions to pay is effective, but like you said, not always practical—especially when you’re dealing with smaller specialty crews who know they’re in demand.

One thing that’s helped me a bit is looping in their crew leads or even their office admin if they have one. Sometimes the message lands better if it comes from someone on their own team rather than me. Still, there’s no magic bullet. Some folks just operate in their own universe, and you end up spending more time chasing them than actually building anything. It’s a balancing act for sure...

TITLE: Keeping Subs On Track Without Losing Your Mind

I hear you on the “didn’t see the sign” excuse—it’s like selective blindness. What’s worked for me (most of the time) is a three-step approach: First, I text the instructions directly to the sub and their lead. Second, I print a copy and stick it right where they clock in. Third, I do a quick walk-through with whoever’s actually on site that day. It’s not foolproof, but at least when something gets missed, I know I covered my bases. Still, there’s always that one guy who acts like he’s never heard a word... Drives me nuts, but I guess it comes with the territory.

“First, I text the instructions directly to the sub and their lead. Second, I print a copy and stick it right where they clock in. Third, I do a quick walk-through with whoever’s actually on site that day.”

I get the logic, but honestly, I’ve found that over-communicating can backfire. Too many reminders and they start tuning you out, like background noise. I’ve had better luck tying compliance to pay—miss a step, it hits their pocket. Not popular, but suddenly everyone’s reading the signs. Sometimes you have to let consequences do the talking.

Honestly, I get where you’re coming from with the “let consequences do the talking” approach, but in my experience, docking pay can turn things sour real fast.

“Too many reminders and they start tuning you out, like background noise.”