Biggest Lessons I’ve Learned In Biz
Goodness me! What a ride owning a business is, right!?
Running and scaling a salon is no easy feat - firstly, salons are complex little beasts. Unfortunately, it ain’t like selling burgers, which i’m sure is also more complex than it would seem.
To ensure consistency, your team will need to be offered constant growth and education. Hairdressing is a combination of art, psychology, science and customer service - and there is a massive divide between good hairdressers and the not so good ones. I think it always comes back to a genuine passion for your craft and the willingness to learn.
This topic is a loaded one but I’m going to break things down and get straight to the point - I hope that these words can offer some insight and at the very least, make you feel like you’re absolutely not alone.
You are going to sacrifice A LOT (time, energy, money, social life, boozy Saturday nights, mental space lel) so start practicing setting boundaries like, now.
What this can look like… Silencing phone notifications, accepting appointments only via online booking systems or emails, hiring a virtual assistant and saying no to tasks you hate, time-blocking your days and sticking to a routine.
2. Hire off energy and a genuine love for your brand LISTEN TO YOUR GUT
People often say that I’ve struck gold here at Paloma Roan when it comes to my team and that I’m super lucky. While yes, I absolutely am.. YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE A BRAND THAT PEOPLE WANNA GET ON BOARD WITH. We’ve all worked so hard to make PR the place it is today and you have to stand out from the crowd. I’ve absolutely hired some people that haven’t fit the brand well and my gut was always on the money during our initial meeting and interview. Don’t worry doll, you’ll get better at it but you must hire off good energy and passion.
3. Sort your finances and systems as though you’re going to sell it
Firstly, if you’re starting out - you need to make besties with both Xero, a killer bookkeeper and a gun accountant. While these things are an expense, they’ll pay dividends in the long run. Prioritise your finance and accounts and if you’re not great with money - GET GOOD WITH MONEY. It’s imperative that you start to document your processes and streamlining your systems AS SOON AS YOU CREATE THEM.
4. Be transparent with your team, have frequent catch ups and deal with problem areas straight away.
Being boss isn’t always fun - it often means having to be the bad guy but also the STELLAR example at all times. I know honey, it doesn’t matter that you’ve got a million things on your plate - as soon as you drop the ball, they’ll drop the ball. You can’t afford to do it. Being transparent, vulnerable and honest with your team is paramount. It’s also important that you regularly check in with them to see how they’re doing. Has someone slacked off a little lately? Mention it, right away. Don’t sleep on it, don’t wait for the best time - right away, “Hey ____ can I chat with you quickly. I’ve just noticed that lately _____ has been happening. Please make an effort to change this (offer solutions) and is there anything I need to know or do to support you better? You’re so valued and I want you to know that I’m here for you. Now let’s go and have an awesome day!”
5. Daily huddles and weekly meetings are game changers - DO NOT HAVE THESE OUTSIDE OF WORK HOURS
Work is work. No, you cannot get your team to catch up for a Sunday brunch to go over biz chat, unpaid. These need to be scheduled in advance and you need to be consistent with them. Huddles are for prepping your team for a big day ahead, goal setting, and hyping them up. Meetings are the nitty gritty with calls to action, the sharing of salon KPI’s, solutions to problems etc. Oh, and you should ALWAYS take minutes for these. Email to your team afterwards for them to have on hand.
6. Sometimes you are going to feel burnt out and like you can’t show up 100% and that’s okay - there are ways to deal with it.
Some might disagree but I think it makes you approachable and relatable as an employer if you too, acknowledge when you’re struggling. Being open and honest with your team reminds them that you are also human and it’s so humbling to admit when you aren’t showing up 100%. A good team will support you and you’ll be amazed at how well your gang can band together if you open up. REPEAT AFTER ME - Good leaders are empathetic, real, vulnerable, inspirational and open minded.
7. Reward great behaviour and put an end to anything that’s weighing the team down
Reward staff members that excel - what this can look like? Pay rises before they ask for one, rewards and incentives, words of praise during meetings, shout outs on socials etc. Here at PR we also have what we call “Angel of The Month” when we get close to the end of a quarter all of our team sit down to vote on who was a star performer and who really excelled. The votes are anonymous, so they can complete their forms online or have them handwritten and we also ask that they write why they think a certain somebody is fit for the crown. While every team member is on a bonus scheme, this is a great way to boost team morale and foster good vibes among our staff. We also have 15 minute power chats with each of our team every single week and if there’s been something that has been bothering them, for example “so and so hasn’t washed their lunch bowl up at all this week” - we get onto it right away. Never in a shaming way, always in a - HEY LET’S GET BETTER AT THIS BECAUSE OUR SALON IS THE BEST kinda way.
8. Refresh your brand and GLOW UP
There’s a universal truth when it comes to business. Firstly, if you’re onto a good thing others may/will try to mimic you and secondly, as time goes on - others will move up the ranks and you’ll constantly need to level up. If you want your brand to stand the test of time, that is. During the pandemic I honestly felt burnt out and uninspired. I found it SO hard to show up on socials and I really just needed a moment of respite. Unfortunately, as soon as stopped engaging so much on socials and putting that same amount of energy into my brand, it showed. Trust me, I’ve had plenty of business fuelled meltdowns - particularly because I am someone who wants the whole cake and to eat it too. I’m very much “go big, or go home.” So it sucks when I’m feeling stagnant and uninspired. While I think it’s so normal to go through these experiences, I also think it’s important not to shame them. YOU MUST PUT YOU FIRST. And if you do that, I promise you’ll recover and will soon be back to feeling tip top. When you get there, show everyone what the hell they’ve been missing and reach for the stars again.
Did these words resonate? I want to hear from you xoxo
Mikki