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The Power of Praise: Uplifting Each Other One Duck at a Time
A bin full of cute ducklings is encouraging team members at Luna Salon to praise one another for actions that align with the salon's culture. These small recognitions build a cohesive culture that fosters collaboration.
by Lindsey Young, Owner of Luna Salon in Tallahassee, FL
October 23, 2024
Some of the salon's team members give out multiple ducks a day, a team-building action that clients also witness.
Luna Salon
3 min to read
These cute ducks encourage team members at Luna Salon to praise one another for positive actions, big and small.
Luna Salon
A salon’s success is not just about the service it provides, but about the environment it creates. Salons are creative spaces, where individual expression and artistry come together to make clients feel confident and beautiful. This creative energy can sometimes give way to stress, competition, and burnout. In such environments, praise becomes an essential tool for creating balance.
Uplifting each other by acknowledging talents, efforts, and small successes will build a culture where your team will feel genuinely appreciated. AtLuna Salon our culture is everything. To keep it strong I wanted to create a way that my entire staff could be proactive in making sure every teammate felt important and supported. That’s when the ducks moved into the salon.
Ducks? Yep, Ducks! You’ve seen them lining the dashboards of Jeeps everywhere. Little plastic ducks with colored hats and sunglasses. Well, guess what? These are not just for Jeeps! I was shown these cute ducks with the saying, “You’re ducking great” printed on them. I thought to myself, “I would love for someone to give this to me!” This sparked an idea and a new tradition started at Luna.
In the morning each team member takes a duck from our duck bin. Throughout the day they look for other teammates upholding Luna’s core values. When they feel a coworker deserves praise they give them a duck! No one should have a duck left to give by the end of the day. Most people find themselves giving multiple ducks away, spreading positivity throughout the salon. The smile that comes from the person receiving the duck is contagious. Not only does this keep morale high but the clients see what we are doing, that we are a true team, and that sets us apart.
These ducks don’t have to be just for big actions. Find simple things that the team is doing that you love to see. I have observed ducks being awarded to each other for numerous reasons. Some examples are: a stylist staying late to accommodate a client, helping a stylist by sweeping for them, washing each other's color bowls, a receptionist speaking beautifully to close a retail sale, that person that came to work looking impeccable, a new stylist nailing a beautiful color, etc…
Lindsey Young, owner of Luna Salon in Tallahassee, Florida.
Luna Salon
What I have found is that when employees know that their efforts will be noticed and appreciated, they are more motivated to bring their best selves to work. Praising others can break down barriers that may exist due to competition or misunderstandings. When employees lift each other up, the team naturally becomes more cohesive, and collaboration thrives.
Simply put, praise is powerful. By uplifting each other with genuine recognition and encouragement, salon teams can create a culture that not only boosts morale but also elevates the overall experience for everyone who walks through the door
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