The Constant
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
by Stacey Soble
Mastering Emotional Intelligence: The Key to a Thriving Salon and A Happy Life
Your business success is directly tied to your mindset. and the owners who master their emotions grow as leaders, creating a business that supports their happiness instead of stealing it. Coach Maria Fontana offers strategies to help you develop your emotional intelligence.
by Maria Fontana
March 6, 2025
3 min to read
Maria Fontana
Here’s the truth, running a salon isn’t just about great hair, managing bookings or selling products.
It’s about you, your energy, your leadership, and how you show up every single day.
If you’re constantly stressed, frustrated with your team, or feeling drained, it’s not just “the industry” or “the economy” that’s the problem.
The real game-changer? Your emotional intelligence.
I’ve been in this business for over three decades, and one thing never changes—your success is directly tied to your mindset.
The salon owners who thrive are the ones who master their emotions, grow as leaders, and create a business that supports their happiness instead of stealing it.
Why Emotional Intelligence is Everything in Your Salon
When you work on your inner game, everything on the outside shifts.
Developing emotional intelligence helps you:
Lead with confidence instead of reacting emotionally to every little issue.
Attract (and keep) the right team that aligns with your vision.
Set clear boundaries so you’re not constantly absorbing drama.
Handle difficult clients and setbacks with clarity instead of stress.
Feel good in your business, your personal life, and everything in between.
Sounds great, right?
But how do you actually get there?
Here are three steps to start leveling up today:
1. Invest in a Personal Development Mentor
You tell your clients that great hair requires maintenance, well, so does your mindset.
If you’re not actively working on your personal growth, your business will always feel like an uphill battle.
A mentor helps you break through limiting beliefs, shift your perspective, and build the resilience you need to thrive.
Action Step:
Find a mentor or coach who aligns with your values and start working on your mindset now. (And if you need support, let’s talk.)
2. Start Your Day with a Mindset Reset
How you start your morning sets the tone for your entire day.
If you’re waking up stressed, scrolling social media, and rushing into work, guess what?
That frantic energy follows you into your business.
Instead, create a simple morning ritual that gets your mind right, whether it’s journaling, meditation, movement, or just sitting in silence with your coffee.
Action Step:
Dedicate at least 10 minutes every morning to something that grounds and centers you before jumping into work.
3. Set Boundaries & Cut the Drama
Your energy is your most valuable asset, stop wasting it on things that don’t serve you.
That means stepping back from salon gossip, limiting social media doom-scrolling, and setting clear expectations for your team and clients.
When you’re constantly pulled into negativity, it drains your focus and keeps you stuck.
Strong boundaries protect your peace and keep you focused on growth.
Action Step:
Identify one area where you’re allowing unnecessary stress or drama, and put a firm boundary in place today.
The Bottom Line
The salon industry will always evolve, but the one thing you can control is you.
Your mindset, emotional intelligence, and leadership determine the success and happiness you create.
When you do the inner work, everything else falls into place.
If you’re ready to step into your next level of success and want real support in mastering your mindset, leading with confidence, and building a business that actually feels good, let’s talk. This is the kind of work that changes everything.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Salon Management
The Most Wonderful Time in Salons and Spas
Planning is in full swing for the most anticipated events and promotions for the 2026 holidays. As owners share their favorite ways to celebrate, they prove that a carefully planned event can also build culture, increase client loyalty, boost sales, and set a business up for a successful 2027.
by Stacey Soble
Leading with Empathy, Humility and a Mastery of Systems
When things run amok at Mane Attraction Salon, Owners Chris and Jenny Knudsen say General Manager Sami Hernandez is their go-to resource and ultimate sounding board. Meet Sami in this installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
Pagoda Brings AI-Powered Operations to Skinovatio Medical Spa Locations
Pagoda, a new AI-native operating system for scheduling, payments, patient records, marketing, and client communications, launches at Skinovatio Medical Spa in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
by Staff
How Women are Rewriting the Rules of Grey Hair
At a panel discussion hosted by L’Oréal Professionnel in Paris in early July, French Philosopher Sophie Galabru explored the cultural shift where women are increasingly choosing natural, personalized color results over traditional grey coverage. In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Galabru and L’Oréal Professionnel Colorist Pierrick Beringer discuss this shift and how salons and colorists respond.
by Stacey Soble
Warm Leadership and Analytical Precision
At Salon Blonde, Director of Operations treats the staff as the salon's most important guests, while her wonderful 'nerdy' side, loves data, systems, and numbers. Find out how she makes Salon Blonde tick.
by Stacey Soble
Trotting the Globe, Forging Connections, Fostering Artistic Creativity
In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Salon Owner Salvatore Minardi reflects on his past 18 months as Intercoiffure America Canada's World Talent Exchange Ambassador and how his experiences will help encourage cultural and artistic exchange and support greater engagement between ICA and the global organization Intercoiffure Mondial.
by Stacey Soble
Client Retention Guidebook
Everything you need to know about client retention as a salon owner.
Success Grown from Within
Owner Shelby Bills says her general manager, Sydney Osborne, reminds her of the power of leading with heart. Find out how Osborne became a great leader in our lastest installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
How Salon Leaders Can Process the Pain and Lead Forward When a Team Members Leaves Unethically
In her latest blog, Kati Whitledge identifies the five stages salon owners go through when a team member leaves the salon unethically, offering advice for each stage.
How AI Is Closing Revenue Gaps for Salons and Spas
The beauty and wellness businesses pulling ahead aren’t just working harder—they’re using AI to capture demand, personalize pricing, and convert more of every guest interaction into revenue. Here’s what the benchmark data reveals about the growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Premium Talent Magnet: The Modern Salon Playbook for Attracting Six-Figure Stylists
Stop chasing recruitment ghosts on generic job boards and start curating an elite team. Discover the framework that top-tier salons use to bypass phone tag, automate visual portfolio vetting, and attract high-earning, culture-first beauty professionals directly through real-time messaging. Turn your recruitment process into an exclusive brand invitation that keeps your highest-ticket chairs permanently filled.
Sponsored by Beautista
Five Revenue Leaks Hiding in Your Salon
Your calendar looks full, but is all of that demand actually converting to revenue? From phantom rebookings to underpriced peak hours, the 2026 Benchmark Report exposes five revenue leaks that most beauty and wellness businesses don’t even know they have.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Heartbeat of Zandi K's Success
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
by Stacey Soble
Rethinking Retail in the Era of E-Commerce
In a world dominated by e-commerce, salon owners push back with proven strategies to increase retail sales while motivating team members to educate their clientele and delighting clients with retail-themed events and clever merchandising displays.
by Stacey Soble
The Harper Ellis Hair Co. Certification Program Teaches Stylists a Smarter, Safer Way to Install Extensions
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
by Staff
The Micro-Salon Blueprint: How Kat Scott Quadrupled Income by Maximizing Her Suite
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
by Staff