Complacency is feeling secure, or smug about your current situation, but being blindly unaware of the potential danger or trouble that might be looming. Complacency causes salon owners to think “she’ll be right mate! I know what I’m doing!”
Until, tragedy hits, or your accountant tells you that you are heading downhill fast and need to think maybe about closing your doors!
I can tell you about problems owning a salon. I had my own fair share of them, including:
- Staff falling pregnant,
- Staff leaving and taking your best clients with them
- Competitor activity attracting your clients away
- Economic restraints, meaning clients didn’t want to come in and spend,
- Natural disasters that destroy your salon appearance
- Unexpected rent increases
- Unexpected repairs on equipment
- You have a personal problem that takes you out of the business for long periods of time
What I am getting at, is that you never know what is around the corner that is going to challenge you, and the sustainability of your business.
Are you complacent? Do you have your finger on the pulse?
Are your staff totally happy, feeling valued and appreciated in your business, or are you constantly worried that any day they might up and leave.
Do they arrive to work looking refreshed, professional, and motivated to achieve target.
Maybe you are down on staff and can’t seem to attract quality applicants.
Maybe, you know the reason you are losing tens of thousands of dollars in turnover is because of how your staff are treating and communicating with your clients?
What are you going to do?
Continue into 2014 doing the same?
Your brand and your image is what brings clients through the door. There is NO room for complacency about what your client experiences, what she sees, hears, feels, senses and smells.
You CAN take control over that.
It’s not going to improve by implementing policies, procedures, but it will improve if you work on your brand, your people, and the message you want to deliver to your ideal client.
It’s proven, amazing brands have reputations that are rock solid because they get it right, they understand their client, and they work on their people so that the customer experience is one that brings them back again and again.
That’s creating loyalty, and that is what will keep you in business and growing.
If you want to strive for excellence this year, and become an elite salon that delivers great service, has an abundance of loyal clients, a full appointment book, solid and reliable staff that can ensure you too can draw a salary from your business and maybe have some time out, then all you have to do is apply for one of my free 30 minute discovery sessions below that will uncover the gaps in your business that are preventing you from achieving the salon of your dreams.
I’ll help you eliminate complacency from your salon for good
But don’t apply if you are not an action taker, don’t waste my time and yours.
Click on the link below and I’ll be in touch with you very soon.
Is 2014 going to be your year to shine?
https://business4beauty.com.au/breakthrough-discovery-session-2/
Kathy F says
It’s easy to reach a place of complacency, if one becomes too comfortable with status quo. That’s why it is critical that one strives for knowledge and improvements of one’s skill and creativity. It only means more satisfaction with your career choice and more financial security. Be excited about what you do or find another job.
Julie Hyne says
Goodness Kathy, thats telling them, Unfortunately, many salon owners and therapists don’t have the gift of knowledge, where they are always seeking to learn and grow. Its so frustrating to see them struggle knowing that their staff are capable of delivering more to the table and not taking action to implement the tools and programs that will help them. Then they go and spend money on refurbishments and renovations hoping that might turn their business around, and ignore the one thing that they really need to work on. Band-aiding a business only gives short term relief and is a form of complacency.
Shelliann S says
I think sometimes salon owners fail to keep their staff motivated and inspired. What are they doing to keep their staff current with trends and customer service. Also, owners need to take a closer look at what is not working in the business and make improvement. Sometimes hiring a consultant to come in and analyse management, staff behaviour, and uncomfortable/dissatisfied clientele. Money will be better spent in the area(s) that needs it the most.
Julie Hyne says
Hi Shellian, great words of advice, so I guess I have to ask you if you have ever gone down that path and what was the outcome for you?
Shelliann S says
Yes I have been down that path, unfortunately. After almost two years of feeling uninspired, I chose to find another place of employment. Looking back I am very happy I made the decision to leave.
Julie Hyne says
Thats wonderful Shelliann, congratulations, what is the best thing that has happened to you since making the move?
Sylvia C says
My employee constantly makes mistakes that cost me money. I want to help her grow but she is reluctant to see the opportunity she has with me .She assists me, get’s a salary, paid vacations. if it snow’s and we close I pay her. I just think I need to shake it up because she has become very complacent. Help with suggestions, please.
Julie Hyne says
Hi Sylvia, I am working with a salon at the moment who has this problem. Unfortunately, they take on staff who don’t have the right personality, characteristics and values that are needed for the business to grow and prosper, and then wonder why they are faced with these problems. Its almost like they are controlling you and then as Pino says, you became fearful of standing your ground because they will leave. Well, best to bring out the real person from the start, and have clarified why they are in the industry, what they want to achieve and how that aligns with your vision and goals. I use specific testing to enable you to take off the blinkers and see your staff for what and who they really are. Then you can confidently assess whether they re worth keeping or redirecting to other roles within your business to allow them to shine.
Sylvia C says
Thank you for your wisdom and experience. You are absolutely correct. It’s time to lay down the ground rules in the salon. She came on board when I was ill and those rules were never established. I intend to make the changes you suggested immediately.
Her not knowing what she wants is exactly the problem. Amazing how you could see that with my short message. I need to make changes in myself as well, and become that leader.
Julie Hyne says
Fabulous Sylvia, If you would like to talk further, why not activate the link at the bottom of the post to organise a 30 minute chat and we can go into it all further at no cost to you. It will be my pleasure.
Jeanne D says
If there are 10 salons in a 3-5 mile radius of your salon with an average of 10 stylists per salon, that gives clients 100 reasons why they don’t need to spend their money at your salon. If you don’t take care of your clients and pamper them to death someone else will.
Pino C says
Very well said once again!!! Should we stick our neck out and take an honest stand on why we choose complacency… perhaps??? Because we are not 100% happy with ourselves, or because we are trying to find our inner self, let’s not forget though, aren’t we on a journey? The other thing that i can add, deserving of a consideration,is we as humans travel at different levels of consciousness every second of our being. Have a productive and peaceful day everyone.
Patricia M says
I love all the comments! I am realising that my stylists are becoming a little too complacent. I have made some changes to some of our systems, with the advice of a salon consultant and some of them choose to literally disregarding the fact that anything was ever said. I feel it is so disrespectful, and now realise I am disrespecting myself by “allowing” the complacency.
Tanya W says
Yes. complacency is an enemy that most business owners face at some point. I feel that advance planning helps to curve complacency. Planning a year ahead gives you a steady focus point and a vision to share with staff, that helps to hold everyone. .even the boss accountable.
Julie Hyne says
Thank you everyone for your comments, the fact is complacency can creep in without you even realising it, having clear goals that are measurable really helps, and of course knowing how your team can contribute.