What Staff Often Want to Learn

~2 min read The Art of Domestic Harmony

Domestic staff roles can be quite varied (and often multi-faceted). It's useful to consider what types of skills many staff would love to learn or improve if given the chance:

Role Training Opportunities

Housekeeper Deep-cleaning techniques for different surfaces (how to care for marble vs. wood, etc.), appliance care (cleaning the washing machine, AC filters), use of any modern tools (like steam cleaners), maybe even basic home maintenance (changing a lightbulb, simple plumbing fixes). Also, time-management strategies (how to schedule the day/week). Some housekeepers are interested in learning a bit of decor/flower arrangement to make rooms look nice.

Cook New cuisines (if they only know local cuisine, maybe teach a few Italian or continental dishes), plating and presentation, portion control, nutrition basics (so they can cook healthier), special diet cooking (gluten-free, diabetic-friendly), baking if they don't know it, and perhaps kitchen management (inventory, budgeting groceries).

Nanny Child development basics (so they understand why we do certain activities, or how to handle tantrums constructively), first aid and child CPR (super important for safety), creative play ideas, maybe some early education techniques if they help with homework or learning. Also, aligning on discipline approaches and learning new games or songs. A nanny might also appreciate learning how to handle children with special needs, if relevant, or the general psychology of different age groups.

Driver Navigation apps and GPS usage (some older drivers rely on memory; tech can help them, worth teaching), defensive driving and road safety refreshers, basic car maintenance (beyond what they already know — maybe how to handle an engine overheating or electronic dashboard indicators etc.), etiquette with guests and high-profile scenarios, maybe even learning some routes to places of interest in case they ever double as a guide. Some drivers might like to improve their language skills (English) if they often interact with expat communities or similar.

(If you have other roles like a gardener, caregiver for the elderly, etc., list similarly tailored skills.)

By asking your staff what they wish they knew or what stresses them, you can target training. For example, if your housekeeper is always anxious about washing certain delicate fabrics, perhaps training on laundry care would ease their stress and save your clothes.