Running a successful salon or spa is a daily experience of ups and downs, agreements, disagreements, good choices and bad choices.
Being the leader of the business means that pretty much everything you do, every choice you make, your reactions, body language, all will be put under a microscope.
While it is important to assert your leadership to move your business forward, most often it is a wise and prudent policy to lead with humility.
Why?
Because you simply cannot accomplish your goals without the support, hard work and follow through of your team. Here are a few ways you can shine a light on their efforts on a continual basis.
Be inclusive. Engage your team in the decision making process. They don’t have to have the final say on things, that’s ultimately up to you, however, when you allow them to be part of the dialogue, they will more easily adopt the choice made.
Look for the lessons. You are going to make mistakes and so will they. Have the foresight to set aside emotion or reaction and look for the lessons. Most importantly, be willing to have open and honest dialogue about what happened and what can be learned from it.
Create safety. Be truthful about where you see the business, about what you know or don’t know. It’s very exhausting to act like you have all the answers. Be willing to share when you don’t and ask for their help or opinion.
Pass the torch. This means create an environment where other people on the team take a leadership role. Whether it’s training, education, marketing, or inventory, look to where you can get people more involved with running the business.
Your environment is only as good as the people in it. Give them the chance to grow, see the future and feel more a part of what is happening and you increase the percentage of success for the business, the team and your customers.
You can learn more about how to create this type of inclusive culture. Go to my store at www.stephengomez.net and check out my book, Interdependent Leadership. Take the journey, put the systems in place and build an environment where everyone has a part in the future the business will take!
