Do you have a standout employee in your salon? Someone who continually goes above and beyond what they’re asked to do? A person who comes early and stays late just to make sure the job’s done? These people are irreplaceable. Salon owners everywhere clamber to find people that are committed to making people look good on a daily basis.
You know full well that this person could pack their stuff and work anywhere – even open their own place. But there are certain reasons why they choose to stick around.
Purposeful Work
Every day this employee comes into the salon, they are doing something that means something to them. They don’t just show up because they have to; they show up to make their lives better while improving another’s. That employee keeps showing up because they are doing things that give them purpose and not just a paycheck.
Make a Difference
While they’re helping themselves, they’re also helping the business. They’re part of something important and they get to contribute to its success. They come with their best efforts and feel a sense of responsibility to your salon to bring their A game every day. If your salon is humming along, and that employee feels like they’re a part of that, they tend to stick around.
Respected In the Workplace
Does this employee take newer ones under their wing? Do the other stylists look up to this person? Do you look up to them in some way? Then the respect level is clear. When an employee is that well respected in a salon – and that respect is earned and recognized – then they feel a stronger connection to that salon.
Part of Something Special
When you got into the salon game, you probably weren’t thinking too much about the “culture” of the business. But now that you’ve established yourself as a respected salon in your area, you can feel that sense of something special building. Great employees feel that too, and more often than not they want to stay around for when it really takes off. It’s always better to be part of something special than something meaningless.
Surrounded By Talent
Maybe there’s one particular employee you have in mind that you’d say is “great”. But realistically, if one is great, they’re all great. Awesome employees are surrounded by other awesome employees who help build each other up while pushing them to get even better at what they do. Good things happen when creative and talented people get together on a project.
Fair Compensation
Of course, being paid fairly for your efforts is a great reason to stay with a salon. Working hard and being properly compensated for that hard work is an excellent incentive to keep a great employee from leaving your salon for greener pastures.
Well-Managed Salon
Far be it from us to not mention the management’s role in making great employees greater. You are clearly killing it as a salon owner if you have a room full of successful and switched-on stylists working. They trust you implicitly to make the right decisions and to have your employees backs when the going gets rough. Good managers are as hard to come by, and great managers create efficient and well-run salons.
Encouragement
Keeping the staff happy and working hard is impossible if they don’t feel like they can reach their full potential. Persistent encouragement from you and any other managers can help employees get better and better. This goes to the teamwork aspect of things, where everyone is helping each other become the best they can be. Great employees stay when they feel like they are performing at their best.
Invested In the Job
When a great employee is invested in their salon, they truly feel like they’re part of something special (as mentioned before). There’s a point where that employee’s passion for their work and the company’s vision meet, and that’s the most influential reason why they stay. At that point there is a real connection to the job. This plays into the last point, which is…
Great Culture
Once your amazing employee has found that they can truly succeed by working at your salon, and that they can make the entire organization better, the culture improves dramatically. No drama, everyone is on the same page, and everyone loves working for your salon – this is a mark of leadership on your part and a mark of your employees having bought into the culture.
Great employees are tough to find, but when you do, your salon grows by leaps and bounds. Customers are happier, you’re happier, and your employees are happier with the extra work coming their way.
