Do you struggle with time management as a salon owner? You’re not alone. It never feels like there’s enough time. While your business card may read “Owner” or “Manager,” it could just as easily say “Shift Filler, Accountant, In-House Therapist, Customer Complaint Specialist, and Employee Conflict Mediator.”
With so many responsibilities pulling you in different directions, it’s easy to end up cramming a full day’s worth of work into just a few hours, all while juggling the unexpected challenges that pop up.
The difference between being an effective manager and a frantic one boils down to one key factor: time management. According to Bob Phibbs, the author of You Can Compete: Double Sales Without Discounting (a fantastic read!):
“Managers are frequently subject to the whims of forces outside their control. You’re either passive and a victim of these demands, or you’re proactive and the master of your day—and the way you feel stress varies greatly between those two approaches.
If you walk into work harried and overwhelmed, that will set the tone. But if you walk in saying, ‘I know what’s most important to accomplish today,’ you’ll feel more in control and less stressed.”
You might be wondering how you can manage your time without hurting your sales. Here are a few tried-and-true strategies to help you take control.
Start With A List
Begin every day by creating a list of personal and professional tasks that need to be completed. Building your day around this list will help you stay focused and prevent outside forces from derailing your plans.
Set Clear Goals
Sales goals are critical to keeping the team aligned and focused. Check your salon’s schedule and assign daily sales goals to everyone working. Despite inevitable distractions, this simple step ensures that your primary objective—hitting your sales target—stays front and center.
Prioritize Training
One of the biggest time-wasters for managers is answering routine questions like, “How do I ring this up?” or “Where can I find this?” If your staff frequently asks these types of questions, it’s a sign they may not be adequately trained.
Incorporate training into your daily to-do list by setting aside time to teach your team something new each day. A well-trained staff will save you time in the long run.
Give Praise Regularly
Employees who feel appreciated are more likely to go above and beyond. Take time weekly or monthly to recognize your staff’s efforts. It doesn’t have to be elaborate—a small gesture, like bringing coffee and saying, “You’ve been doing a great job,” can have a big impact. Little acts of recognition go a long way in boosting morale and productivity.
Time management is undeniably challenging. However, by implementing some of these ideas into your daily routine, you’ll find yourself with more time to focus on what truly needs to be done, rather than simply reacting to what pops up.
Remember: Either you run the day, or the day runs you.
