Balancing Mental Health While Maintaining Standards In Salons And Clinics

By Julie Piantadosi

Running a business in 2024 sure is challenging. Navigating through making profit, creating Client experience, taking care of your staff and importantly taking care of yourself can feel like a whirlwind of emotions, and if you’re doing it while trying to look after a family as well it truly becomes almost what feels unsustainable.

Firstly, there is a big difference between mental health and mental illness. Mental health is something that we all struggle with from time to time. We now have a tired overworked burnt-out workforce, often of young people, especially who struggle with their own personal resilience. When our resilience is poor, we lose focus, standards and performance drop and we are more likely to be sick more often. So, building resilience in our teams is essential, not only for their mental health but for their whole being.

Mental health has lots of variations on the spectrum. Many people suffer from mild symptoms of anxiety, like sweaty palms and feeling anxious around a difficult client, low self-esteem, and lots of self-doubt, these can lead to physical symptoms and when these symptoms are overbearing can lead to panic attacks.

Some people suffer from mental illness, which is very different to mental health. Mental illness requires a doctor, or a psychiatrist and treatment can be ongoing for the rest of their life. It is our duty of care as leaders that if we think one of our team members is suffering from mental illness that we get them to the GP at the very least. It is our responsibility to do so.

The goal Is to balance the well-being of those around us while knowing it’s absolutely crucial to still maintain excellent standards for our salon, ensuring our clients are always receiving the best level of care and service possible. This requires ongoing effective communication, an abundance of kindness and empathy and a tough backbone.

Balancing these two aspects can be challenging but is essential for creating a thriving, sustainable workplace, where people show up together as cheerleaders bringing out the best in each other and supporting each other in our dark days so that we can enjoy the bright days too.

Mental health issues can affect anyone. it shows no discrepancy and can affect the young and the Old. Beauty therapists often face unique stressors, including long hours, high client expectations, often difficult Client often difficult clients and the physical demands of their work. Burnout, anxiety, and stress are common, impacting job performance and personal well-being.

Clients may also visit salons seeking not just beauty treatments, but a reprieve from their own mental health challenges, looking for relaxation and a boost to their self-esteem. Not only does a beauty therapist need to be committed to delivering the best treatments possible but they also need to learn how to effectively communicate, demonstrating empathetic communication while knowing they don’t actually have the tools or skill sets to help their clients with mental health, that’s what professionals do who work in this space of treatment for mental health day after day.

So sometimes, being an effective listener as a beauty therapist is the very best support. We can give to our clients who are struggling. To be sustainable in these challenging times, it’s essential to create a supportive environment to foster a compassionate and inclusive workplace, it’s crucial to start with education. Provide training sessions for your team that cover the basics of mental health awareness, including recognising signs of mental health issues, understanding how to approach conversations sensitively, and offering support effectively.

This foundational knowledge helps in creating an environment where employees feel safe discussing their mental health without fear of stigma or reprisal. Often, local psychologists will be committed to sharing and impacting their community and may be willing to share with your team.

Implementing well-being Policies and Practices is essential for your business. You could Consider implementing flexible scheduling options to help employees balance their work and personal lives.

Regular breaks are vital, especially in an industry where employees are on their feet for extended periods. Provide access to mental health resources, such as counselling services or Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), which offer confidential support and guidance. Business owners should always be recommending their staff for checking in with their general practitioner to discuss their mental health and well-being and if necessary, seeking the skill set of a psychologist can be very positive.

Clearly communicate these policies to your team and ensure they are implemented consistently. An open-door policy where employees can discuss their mental health concerns with management without fear of negative consequences can also be very beneficial.

While it’s important to prioritise mental health, maintaining the high standards your clients expect remains critical. This balance can be achieved by setting clear expectations and providing ongoing training. Ensure your team stays updated on the latest beauty techniques and industry best practices through regular workshops and training sessions.

Foster a culture of teamwork where employees support one another in achieving both personal and professional goals. When team members understand that their well-being is a priority, they are more likely to stay engaged and committed to maintaining high standards.

My Practical Tips for Balancing Mental Health and Standards in salon -

1. Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular one-on-one meetings with employees to discuss their workload, stress levels, and overall well-being. These check-ins can help identify issues before they escalate and show employees that their well-being is valued.

2. Healthy Work Environment: Create a calming and organised workspace that reduces stress and promotes well-being.

This might include ergonomic equipment, soothing decor, and a well-maintained break area where employees can relax.

3. Encourage Self-Care: Promote selfcare practices among your team. This could involve offering yoga or meditation sessions, providing healthy snacks, or encouraging activities that promote physical and mental health.

4. Client Education: Inform clients about the importance of mental health and create a welcoming environment where they can feel comfortable and cared for. Consider offering services that specifically address relaxation and stress relief, such as massages or aromatherapy treatments even for clients not booked for these treatments.

5. Recognition and Rewards: Recognise and reward employees for their hard work and dedication. Positive reinforcement can boost morale and show appreciation, which in turn fosters a positive work environment.

6. Transparent Communication: Maintain open and transparent communication channels. Keep your team informed about business goals, changes, and expectations, and encourage feedback. Feeling heard and involved can significantly impact employees’ mental well-being.

7. As a leader, and business owner never ever stop learning. I always recommend that anyone running a business who is struggling with their own mental health needs to visit the general practitioner, asked for recommendations to a counsellor or psychologist who can support you during these challenging times.

8. Replace the word mental health, with well-being. For an example if you are encouraging a team member to have a mental health day, you would change the words to a well-being day so that we can use positive language around mental health rather than negative language.

9. Everybody has something going on in their life. All of us have some trauma either from our past or things that we’re going through right now so staying compassionate and using empathetic communication is essential for continuous success in business and if you see someone is struggling, get them to make an appointment and talk to their GP!

Balancing mental health and maintaining high standards in salons and spas is not only achievable but essential for long-term success. By prioritising mental health, creating supportive policies, and fostering a positive work environment, you can enhance both employee satisfaction and client experience. This approach not only benefits your team but also leads to a loyal and satisfied customer base, ultimately contributing to the growth and success of your salon.

Remember, mental health and mental illness often need treatment so unless you are a trained professional like I am, always, always, encourage your team to speak to the general practitioner.

Together, we can better understand mental health and thrive in our businesses at the same time while supporting the people around us and ourselves

Julie Piantadosi is a former Salon and spa owner who is now a sought-after speaker high in demand corporate trainer and qualified psychotherapist specialising in the link between standards in the workplace and trauma.

CEO Total Coaching Academy. julie@totalcoachingacademy.com