RESPECT IN THE WORKPLACE
tell his or her side and try to resolve problems as quickly as possible. Though it’s inevitable to like some people more than others, it is never okay to be disrespectful or to intentionally treat someone unfairly. Stylists should aim to find ways to mesh with coworkers. As a service provider, one should find pleasant topics of conversation. As a leader or boss, one should find ways to create a harmonious team and to strengthen communication skills. Those who choose not to build relationships with those around you, no matter how alike or how different, you may miss wonderful opportunities of possible friendship. Stylists who keep in mind the definitions of respect and equality are more equipped to move forward to better themselves, better their place of work, better the community, and better their world! Discovering helpful ways to improve the salon workplace begins with the foundation. The foundation of each salon is the ownership, management, and the staff. As leadership skills improve, staff interactions and communication will improve, and then team unity will strengthen. This creates a domino effect. The clients will take notice and the team will have a good public reputation.
While people cannot completely relate to everyone all the time, everyone has a responsibility as a human being and in the service industry to be pleasant, kind, and helpful to others. “Equality,” according to dictionary.com , means, “the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank or ability” (dictionary.com, n.d). Equality in the salon would be easier to obtain if a standard “set of rules and guidelines” was available to follow. But, how do you set standard rules and guidelines when the environment of people is ever changing? In the salon, the mix of clients typically changes every fifteen minutes! Unlike hanging around a water cooler in an office setting, employees must be aware that a “one-time statement” could be heard by multiple people, and not just their immediate coworkers. Using appropriate conversation at all times, on all levels, and treating everyone with the same amount of respect is a good foundation for standards of equality. Disagreements typically stem from a difference in opinions or miscommunication about a subject or idea. It is easy to get heated when someone blatantly disrespects something you feel passionate about. In a professional environment, employees must maintain an even temper and continue to be kind. It is usually best to talk through issues when you are calm. Stylists should give each person an opportunity to
AREAS FOR SELF-EVALUATION
of their energy to inspiring and enabling others. Taking care of them is a big part of this.” -George Bradt, writer. As a leader in the salon industry, caring more about your team ensures better results than micro-managing their cutting and coloring abilities. Using this approach, stylists enjoy learning new hair tips and tricks, and they understand that it’s their skill level that will help build their clientele. Typically, the stylists attend hairs shows or hands-on training to increase their skillset. Therefore, leaders should focus more on the stylists’ needs to help them perform their job duties. Some beauty academies incorporate skills of communication into their curriculum. One helpful exercise is to role play a stylist/client conversation and talk about appropriate responses. This helps to prepare the staff as they face challenging clients or coworkers. With so much learning material available on the internet, stylists can read blogs and articles pertaining to the beauty industry to stay current. Stylists can learn many valuable lessons from someone who has experience in the industry. know, wet hair is longer than dry hair. When a client asks for a certain length, be sure you know if they are referring to wet or dry hair length!) Once the client decided to accept Amy’s apology, and return an apology for the “tone” she used on her, it was already too late. The damage had been done. She did not return as Amy’s client, nor did she return to the salon. Amy learned many lessons that day. First, the wet versus dry hair length difference. Second, she realized that the old saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” was a highly inaccurate phrase. Words can leave a lasting scar that once remembered, can hurt as much as the moment they were first inflicted. The
Earlier, this course posited eight self-evaluation questions, which may help to identify areas of personal improvement. Whether it’s becoming better at communicating thoughts, feelings, and ideas, or improving on the tone of voice the following pointers will individuals to improve their interaction with others. The following section will offer helpful tips and tricks for increasing your communication skills in the workplace. Focus on the needs of others “One of the most fundamental lessons of leadership is that if you’re a leader, it’s not about you. It’s about the people following you. The best leaders devote almost all Communicating well Children are taught to say “please” “thank you,” while sometimes, adults forget. Self-confidence is the first step of good communicating skills. Knowing what to say and when to say it, along with looking someone in the eyes, sets the tone for the conversation. Using proper body language is half the battle. No folded arms! No eye-rolling! And remember to always listen. Appropriate tone of voice Stylists should also consider how others, both clients and coworkers, perceive them. Body language and tone of voice contribute to how others play an important role in a person’s interaction with someone else. “Tone” does not simply mean how loud or how soft a person speaks, but it also refers to the attitude behind what someone says. Consider the following example: In all her years of experience behind the chair, Amy was yelled at only one time. Her feelings were hurt and she walked away feeling mad and embarrassed. After a time of cooling off and wiping away her tears, Amy returned to finish the client’s haircut. Miscommunication had led to shorter bangs than she had wanted. (As most stylists
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Book Code: NTNC0825
EliteLearning.com/Cosmetology
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