Employee Management Tips for Salon Owners

KEY TAKEAWAYS: When it comes to employee management tips for salon owners, it all starts with clarity and honesty. Clear communication, fair compensation, consistent feedback, and a positive employee experience are essential to effective salon management. Looking to create a positive environment in your own salon? Keep reading to learn our top four tips. 

When it comes to employee management for salon owners, I often recall this quote from Brené Brown. “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” 

Being a salon owner and manager requires wearing many hats: coach, mentor, marketer, analyst, recruiter, housekeeper, receptionist, educator, policy maker, vibe setter, and more. But communication is where everything starts. 

Without clear communication, staff turnover will happen, chaos will ensue, and everyone, including you, will be left feeling unhappy and frustrated. As a salon owner (or manager), you have the ability to make the salon a place where your employees want to stay.

The ultimate goal of a salon owner should be to create and cultivate a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and appreciated. 

Whether they are your staff or your salon guests, the way you show up can and will set the stage. All great experiences start at the top, and salons are no different. 

Your stylists have a choice of salons to work in, and they chose yours. That should mean something to you, because you and your salon must mean something to them. 

How do you create and manage a salon that attracts top-tier talent who stay? Great question!

Here are four tips to help you on your management path! (And a few extra right here if you're a new salon manager). 

Employee Management Tips & Techniques: A Few Ideas to Consider 

Clear Policies and Procedures/Employee Handbook

Clear communication is the key to effective salon management.

This starts with having crystal-clear policies and procedures, including a detailed employee handbook. Leave zero room for guessing, interpretation, or reading between the lines. 

Every employee should have a full understanding of the expectations being required of them. They should understand the dress code, vacation/sick day policy, monetary compensation, salon duties, when breaks and lunches occur, etc.

When they know what is required and expected of them, your team will rise to the occasion. 

This will make your job infinitely easier in the long run, because everyone will be on the same page. Be sure to encourage them to come to you with any questions or concerns. Being clear here starts the building blocks of trust. 

Clear & Fair Compensation 

I’m not going to suggest exactly how to compensate your employees, but I will tell you to make it fair and make it clear. 

Know the payroll laws for your state and the federal government to protect yourself and your business. 

A new stylist I once coached was getting all the freebies for a back-to-school offer her salon shares in their community and was compensated at her hourly wage. However, all those freebies were not counted into her monthly income goal. 

In my opinion, that’s unfair. I suggested she ask the salon owner to reconsider this policy. It didn’t benefit the owner and felt punitive to the stylist. In the end, the owner reconsidered, and the new stylist was back on track to hit her income goal for the month. 

Not only was this a win/win, but it was clear and fair for both parties.

Clear Conversations and Feedback

Did you know if you have one short, meaningful conversation each week with an employee, they are four times more likely to be highly engaged in their job? 

This can be as quick as a fifteen-minute chat. What an amazing opportunity to let your employee know what a great job they’re doing and/or thank them for going above and beyond their normal duties. 

Showing gratitude lets your salon employees know they are valued and appreciated versus undervalued and unappreciated. Noticing the positive behaviors is an easy (and effective) way to motivate employees, and managing difficult staff is to stop it before it starts. 

Don’t forget to encourage an “open door" policy. Having both parties communicate before challenges arise will go far in building a harmonious work environment. One built on respect and trust.

Clear, Positive Employee Experience 

The right team makes the dream team, right? 

However, that can be challenging with creatives. Salon professionals tend to be dreamers and don’t do well with rules and structure. They love freedom in their schedule, with their clients, and how they work. 

They definitely want to feel valued, appreciated, and that the salon owner has their back when needed. Hiring the right staff is crucial. Once you’ve got them, keep them by enriching their employee experience with team-building events. 

Choose volunteer opportunities together to have the whole salon participate in. Bring lunch in during busy back-to-school and holiday periods, or plan a celebratory meal out for the team. 

Another suggestion for a clear employee experience is to have a clear path for growth. No one wants to stay in the same position forever; otherwise, they will find another salon to make their home. Keep them engaged by offering ongoing education and guest speakers in the salon. 

Letting staff share their gifts and talents with their coworkers is also a wonderful way to help them shine and build confidence. 

Burnout is the number one reason for employee turnover and 60% of females say they want a work/life balance, according to a recent Gallup study. With the majority of salon professionals being women, flexible work schedules can help prevent burnout and lessen turnover. 

Consider giving staff guidelines and parameters, but let them choose what works best for their creative flow and personal life. Offering some say in their schedules is a great way to lower that risk, create trust, and build loyalty.

At the end of the day, salon owners and managers have the power to positively affect their employees. Having systems in place, clear expectations, and open conversations keeps each party on the same page.

Together, the salon owner or manager and salon staff member can expect a healthy, long-term, professional relationship. If you have their best interest in mind, they will return the favor.

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