Have you ever woken up and thought; I don’t want to go to work today? Or worse – woken up every day thinking this?
Most people who wake up feeling like this every morning will do nothing about it, and even worse, they’ll still go to work. They’ll under-perform, have a bad attitude, or even develop mental health conditions like anxiety or depression. They’ll feel stuck, unappreciated, bored and unhappy. Is this the type of team that you want working for you?
Is this feeling what drove you to open your salon in the first place? Most salon, spa and clinic owners have had a “bad” workplace experience that drove them to work for themselves or open their own business.
Whether you believe it or not, your energy has a huge effect on your business, your team and your clients’ overall experience. One ‘bad egg’, it could be you or a team member, can turn a salon upside down and cause havoc in only a few days or weeks.
So, how do you create a positive salon culture?
Creating a positive team culture may seem easier said than done, but these five tips are proven to develop and improve company culture. Use them in your salon, spa or clinic and you and your staff will wake up every day excited to go to work and give your very best!
1. Share your why and your values
Why do you do what you do? What are your values? Know Your Why by Simon Sinek talks about the importance of sharing your why with your team and clients. If your team has the same values as you and feel connected to the ‘why’, they won’t be showing up to work just to take home their paycheck.
Instead, they’ll be showing up to work every day with a sense of purpose. Create a list of values and place them in the staff kitchen or break room to ensure your team truly understands why you do what you do, and how they fit into that vision and can adopt those values to be part of something bigger.
2. Schedule regular one on one meetings
Are you always busy? When you’re busy, your team will notice, and they’ll feel like you’re too busy to chat or listen to their problems. Just like your clients, your team members have needs that need to be met, too.
When was the last time you had a one-on-one meeting with each team member? Go to your calendar now and book in fortnightly or monthly 30-minute meetings to take each team member out for a coffee and a chat. It’s the perfect opportunity to connect and allow your team member to talk about them and their needs.
You are their leader, and if you want them to perform you need to be available for them. You need to lead, inspire and mentor.
Want tips for managing your time more efficiently as a salon owner?
Download our free e-book: The Ultimate Guide to Time Management.
3. Train your staff
High performers require ongoing stimulation. They want to learn, they want to achieve and they want to be the best versions of themselves. Allocate one to three hours, once a week, for the whole team to get together, bond and learn new things.
This will not only stimulate their minds, but also allow them to get excited about new services or products, which will increase overall productivity and make the team more likely to reach their targets.
4. Encourage gratitude
Show your team you appreciate them. That doesn’t mean you need to spend thousands of dollars, it could be as simple as a really nice card, some flowers or some thoughtful words, or it could be in the form of praise
You can get your whole team involved by introducing gratitude into your morning huddle. Ask your team members what they’re grateful for each day to start on a positive note. Positivity and gratitude are contagious, so get those good vibes flowing.
5. Lead by example
Your team is a reflection of you. As a salon, spa or clinic owner, it’s important to focus on your own mental well-being. When you’re not on your ‘A’ game, how can you expect your team to be?
Your team will behave how you behave; if you’re always tired, they’re always tired. You are the leader, and if you want a team of high performers you need to be a high performer yourself. You need to show up, you need to be present and you need to love what you do, because if you don’t, how can you expect your team to?
Take a couple of hours each week to do some meditation, yoga, Bowen therapy, running or whatever helps you to clear your mind and recharge. If you don’t, your team and business may suffer as a result.
When your culture is great, you and your staff will feel positive and inspired to do your best work. And when you’re doing your best work, your clients and your business will reap the rewards.
Want more tips for building your dream team?
Download our free e-book for salon owners: How to build Your Dream Team, for tips for building a high performing, engaged and happy team that you can action now for immediate results!
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