Money talks for sure, and we are each entitled to a fair wage, however there is also a lot of power in having a team that’s happy, too. Working with staff to help them achieve their career goals will build a happy working environment, and you will also build a happy team who are constantly engaged in how to do better. Personal growth and recognition impact your employee retention. Business coach Penny Etheridge shares key points on how to build a happy team…
The power of continuous feedback
No matter how good a hairdresser is, they will only develop if they get feedback on their work. Patting people on the back for an exemplary service or pointing out glaring mistakes in their work comes naturally to most of us. However, the key is in the recognition that lies in validating work that is just ‘good’ — the kind of work which, if we are honest, makes up most of people’s efforts. The ‘good’ feedback conversations are important because until you do, you’re in danger of leaving your team guessing at what kind of work qualifies as acceptable. Until you say it, do they really know?
Have support partners in your team
Having a go-to person is great for any new team member. Salon managers are there when you need to ask permission, but due to the nature of that relationship new people don’t often feel like taking simple questions to them. Assigning an appropriate go-to person is a great opportunity to enable the “that’s fine, keep it up” type of feedback. A knock-on benefit is that engaging team members as mentors will work wonders on their own motivation. It sends a strong message that says, “You have valuable knowledge to pass on to our new staff member and we trust you to do it well.” The mentor is forced to display confidence in their knowledge. It also positions them as the seasoned expert in that situation, which can be significant validation for their work.
Involve those that want to
Regular team events are the backbone of any healthy salon culture. A problem of apathy towards team building events can begin to fester if you delegate events to the same organiser all the time. This task (which should be fun and motivating) can seem a chore and be a drain on their own creative energy and time resources. Why not develop a free approach to organising team events? Develop your own team members who get excited about owning a project and making a positive impact – regardless of age or status. These are just a few things that you can do to challenge your team and make the work more meaningful and enjoyable. The bottom line is that when you hire smart, creative people, titles and salary numbers make up only a part of their motivation.
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Respect is a hub for UK hairdressers of all ages and stages to find out what We Love, We Hear and We See as the best product launches, styling advice, hair tools, education training and seminars and hair shows! Penny Etheridge is a salon business coach and mentor who has helped many companies achieve success and grow their business to be the best it can. Sign up to our newsletter which is sent fortnightly direct to your email, so you stay up-to-date with salon styling information, trends in session work, advice on presenting on stage or progress in educating – whatever your interest, whether you’re a trainee or creative director, an educator or team leader, you’ll find all the opportunities and ideas on www.respectyou.me
