Creating a fun working environment

The concept “having fun” may not feature highly in many management manuals but according to Mark Mountney, director and owner of London salon Zoology creating a fun working environment  is a vital part of running a successful business. Staff retention With an enviable staff retention rate of 80% of staff with over five years’ service and 40% with him for 10 years, Mark has learned what it takes to motivate and keep people loyal. “It’s all about balance. We work in a creative field and having fun is part of that and the trick is to incorporate it into what we do. So long as there is plenty of professionalism and focus on the needs of the clients, it can make a big difference to the business,” says Mark. Involve your team As someone who is passionate about the hairdressing industry and his business, Mark’s enthusiasm is infectious. He involves his team in weekly meetings where they bring ideas, discuss any problems and generally have an open forum. “I think it’s important to really involve your team in the business because it makes them feel valued. One of our team members is Disney-mad and she came up with the idea of a Disney family fun day where we all dressed up as Disney characters, played Disney movies and music all day and gave out goody bags to the kids,” says Mark. The day was a great success with the salon buzzing all day and many people popping in to see if they could book their children in for appointments.  It was just one example of where the salon used a fun theme to bring itself extra publicity but also provided a lot of enjoyment for both staff and clients. Be a coach not just a boss Mark sees his role as a coach to his team members and makes sure that he finds time to give individual attention to each person. “Of course the overall business goals are crucial but it is important to find out individual motivators and goals of each team member.  What motivates one person is going to be different from another. So some team members will love to get involved with photo shoots and industry events, while others will really value extra time off to spend with their family,” says Mark. Treat everyone as an individual Respecting individual motivators, says Mark, is an important part of management and creating targets that will benefit the business around these can reap great rewards. Mark sets out key targets for each team member to meet based around the needs of the business and then customises the rewards to ensure that team members continue to feel motivated and valued. “We look at a range of business needs, such as retail income, positive attitude, communication and repeat bookings, and we have target points to be reached for each of these. We also ensure that the team has rewards in terms of team nights out, which are great for bonding,” says Mark. Another fun idea recently had the salon team up with the local pub to organise a night of Drag Queen Bingo.  Not only did the entire team get involved but it created a great community spirit with clients and locals joining in the fun. “I once read that the most successful people in the business are able to walk away from their business and have a good time. I agree with this entirely. Brining an element of fun into the work environment is definitely good for team motivation and that is always good for the business,” Mark concludes.