5 ways to BOOST MORALE IN YOUR TEAM
A happy, smiling, hardworking team is every salon owner’s goal. But now let’s remember, we’re living in the real world! Every team has its ups and downs – whether it’s initiating new joiners or keeping long-term employees energised. Being the boss isn’t easy, but it’s a whole lot better when you have a positive work culture and motivated people around you.
1 | BE AN OPEN BOOK
Ownership is a powerful way to spark ambition. The more invested in the business your employees are, the more they’ll care about its performance.
Be transparent about performance metrics, costs and challenges, and always share success when it comes along. Can you make key members more responsible for, and therefore invested in, certain aspects of salon life? Shared goals and visions for the business will pull a team together.
2| CREATE A TEAM SPIRIT
The most successful salons have a social connection and bond between team members. A sense of belonging is often the key factor that keeps them with you.
Regular team building inside and outside of the salon is crucial – a great night out can work wonders. But it’s important to keep an eye on everyday interactions to make sure the chemistry is working across the board. Stress and negativity are infectious and should be nipped in the bud.
3 | IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY…
Small gestures can mean so much more than big rewards: That can be a ‘thank you’ for a job well done or more responsibility when someone is excelling in their work.
Trips, prizes or opportunities outside the salon also have the power to motivate employees and give them a sense of accomplishment.
4 | …BUT IT’S NOT A BAD PLACE TO START
When morale starts to dip it’s rarely to do with salary. In fact, it’s far more likely to be a desire for more development and training opportunities.
Benchmarking your salaries against the local area and your team’s skill level is mandatory. Pay fairly, but make sure that goes hand-in-hand with offering room to progress and giving credit where it’s due.
5 | REMEMBER, YOUR TEAM WORKS WITH YOU, NOT FOR YOU
While it’s important to give the feedback your team needs to grow and develop, you should embrace their input to help you improve too. Shine a light on each individual’s diverse skills and creative talents to help your team appreciate and support each other.
You might learn a thing or two as well! I’ve had some great team players and some not so great over my career, but I absolutely would NOT have enjoyed the journey I’ve had without each and every one of them. You can’t do what you do without your team, so always be humble and open, appreciate them and make sure they know their ideas matter.
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