Managing Your time As A Salon Owner

SALON OWNERS (tips for a time management plan) 

I’ve talked a lot about setting your goals that will help you become

a more successful manager and salon owner. I can tell you from my own salon businesses, as a consultant and entrepreneur, that managing your valuable time is one of the most necessary parts in reaching those goals. Having more free time, making more money and gaining more satisfaction and motivation in your work are huge benefits that you can create yourself just by having a little bit more self-discipline. 

TO MEET YOUR GOALS CREATE THE TIME!!

“I’ve always been a planner and a list maker. I’m a total mess sometimes,

but I manage to stay organized and have developed a work plan that I am comfortable with that helps me stay on track. Believe me , it took a lot of thought, time, and planning about where I wanted to be and how I was going to achieve my dreams. Now I am able to enjoy teaching and training other salon owners and stylists! Planning will help you answer so many questions that you have about your hair career now and where you plan to be in the future. 

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER? 

Would you like to get more training and learn new skills? 

How much time do you personally connect with clients? With hairdressers? staff? Online? 

What would you like to accomplish this month? What are your ideas/plans for future projects that would help your salon? 

WHERE SHOULD I FOCUS? 

Once you’re clear on what you want to accomplish, get out that calendar or planner out and break your salon projects into deadlines and schedule the bulk of your time working on them. Expect things to happen later than planned or sooner than expected. And don’t focus on too many things at once!

FUTURE PLANS? 

 What is your vision for yourself? What’s Next? 

Do you want to move to another town, or open a new salon?

What are your plans for renovating your current salon? How many hours, weeks, months will it take? 

When would you like to retire? How do you see your future? What is your time frame in making it happen? 

Managing your daily workflow: 

Planning ahead makes it easier to “ turn off your worries.” 

There are quite a few bad habits that we all have experienced that causes us to waste time and money. Some reminders: 

As salon owners you are probably already too busy to waste time to go out every night and party, take lengthy lunch breaks, or spend too many hours binge watching TV, or excessive social media searching…. Right? 

 A new business idea comes to you and you spend hours researching it, but can’t decide what to do with it so you decide to wait until later. Two weeks down the road you see the same idea so you start the whole process all over again. Just do it! Learn to make immediate decisions and move on. 

Learning how to shorten interruptions when you’re working makes such a big difference. You can make your work more productive by putting your phone down and off when you’re busy, and realize how much time you are taking in conversations.. It’s up to you! 

Check your emails quickly and efficiently, no internet surfing, reading meaningless articles, and by communicating with those who are most helpful in meeting your goals. And no hours scrolling Tic Toc! 

 Make your office comfortable for you. I like a calendar right on my wall and I also use white boards and camera equipment that are easily within reach. 

Don’t forget those achievable “To Do Lists”.

How much time will be spent training your staff on the new cleaning procedures? etc.…... 

Outsource the mundane tasks….teenagers can be great with social media and inexpensive; get your staff involved and onboard with photos, videos, sales; bring in someone from online….. 

 Find time to stay healthy by eating well and exercising to help keep you focused!: fill up on the good stuff , great exercise videos are out there or just  dance dance dance! Feel that tension lift and energy build. 

IT’S A JUGGLING ACT 

I ’m sure you can add your own ways of staying organized and balancing your life in your hair business - it is a juggling act. 

RE-FOCUS BY WORKING SMARTER 

Make your own time management plan about how you are going to focus on what you want for yourself, your salon, and your future and stick to it. Don’t let others dictate your life and your ambitions.

By being disciplined about your daily and weekly habits, managing your energy level, and stopping daily distractions, you will be surprised at how much it will help you to reach your Hairdresser/Business goals and give you that extra time to enjoy the process of learning and growing to reach your fullest potential as a business salon owner.