Jeff Grissler, Amazon Best Selling Author, Consultant and Educator
Jeff Grissler, Amazon Best Selling Author, Consultant and Educator

The salon is a melting pot of many different personalities. This group of salon/spa employees is working hard at keeping their clients looking handsome and or beautiful. The effort that this takes on any given day can be overwhelming. Standing on your feet coloring or cutting hair, giving a massage or facial is not easy work. That said, tension may rise, personalities may conflict and products may be used when not asked, but how we each conduct ourselves and deal with that in the salon/spa is extremely important to the success of the salon/spa’s business.

When the salon/spa is busy it is not uncommon for temperatures to rise. I’m sure you can think of examples of rude behavior in the workplace, including colleagues making petty comments, communicating in an abrasive manner, screaming at one another, backbiting, or simply expecting that people will do things for them at a whim without asking them nicely or thanking them. We have all seen it and have done it ourselves, buy the salon/spa is not the place for it, nor will they put up with it.

Many people seem to think because they are so busy and stressed, they are allowed to be unpleasant to their colleagues, or show up late to things without apologizing.

Some see incivility as a lack of manners. Others have even told me they think civility is a sign of weakness. Whatever the reason, there is no excuse for treating people with a lack of respect and professionalism or showing just plain bad manners in the salon/spa.

Why is civility on the job such an important issue? Incivility reflects poorly on the workplace. It sends a message to customers about the salon/spa and is related to increased consumer complaints. It also affects employee loyalty — why would your talented people want to stay when rudeness is the norm? A lack of civility also drains productivity because employees are spending emotional time stressed out about one another.

To be successful, there will be one rule in the salon/spa in regards to getting along and acting professional to one another. All will get along, if they don’t they will be terminated. The salon/spa as an organization will manage its interpersonal relationships so there are positive and respectful interactions among employees, customers and managers. Thus, creating a professional atmosphere with the utmost professionalism at all times, every time.

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