As salon owners, we can often experience emotional burnout but are the last to know. I heard the endless trials and tribulations of my team members while dealing with my own—it all adds up. Burnout shows up in sneaky ways so check in with yourself often and honestly. Model wellness and watch for signs of burnout it in your team members. Here are some strategies to help your team stay well.
1. Communicate
In addition to having regular monthly team meetings, have a regular one on one meeting with each member of your team. This helps you connect on a deeper level checking in on their professional goals and also how they are doing emotionally. Often you can nip it the beginnings of burnout in the bud (and other potential morale problems) by acknowledging how they are feeling. Burnout often shows up as low productivity and under performance first. Don’t be afraid to have the conversation.
2. Work Life Balance
If you suspect a team member is suffering from burnout, offer some options for an extra long weekend or more flexibility in their schedule. Work life balance is crucial to recharging those batteries and staying well in mind, body and Spirit.
3. Encourage Wellness Practice
Create a culture of wellness in your salon. After all, that is you’re your clients are coming in for so your team needs to embody wellness too to give their best to their clients. Incorporate wellness tips as part of your monthly meetings-having each of your team members teach their peers what they do to foster wellness in their daily lives.
4. Professional Guidance
Talk about the gifts of empathy but the risk of emotional burnout if it is not in check. If your salon has a client who is Grief Counselor, ask them for guidance or to come in for a short talk with a salon service as payment.
5. Rewarding with Wellnesss
Whenever possible offer meditation lessons, massage, acupuncture, Reiki, or Reflexology services as an incentive for performance. Let them pick which one they get to have.
6. Break up your Day
Finally, encourage all team members are taking regular breaks in their day. Be sure to model wellness and balance in your life as well.
All will benefit when we are aware of burnout and other mental and emotional stressors of being a salon professional. Taking time to achieve balance in mind, body and spirit will result in a more fulfilling career, a productive positive team that will result a more successful and profitable business.
Some recommended reading/listening:
*Positivity: Top Notch Research Reveals a 3 to 1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life. – Barbara Frederickson, Ph.D. (2009).
Audiobook: Meditation for Beginners: 10th Anniversary Edition. -Jack Kornfield. (2010) Sounds True.
10% Happier: How I tamed the voice in my head, reduced stress without losing my edge, and found self-help that actually works-a true story. -Dan Harris (2014).
Debbie Surette is a 25-year veteran of the beauty industry with a passion for the science behind holistic wellness. She is a Master Hairstylist who is currently attending Acadia University finishing an undergraduate Science degree in Applied Psychology. Debbie was blessed to previously own a franchise of the Head Shoppe in Halifax. Ten years ago she opened her home based Hair Studio in Berwick, Nova Scotia to raise her two sons and still enjoy the wacky world behind the chair. Debbie can be reached through her wellness website: www.thehappymedium.info
Comments are closed.