Keeping staff motivated in the credit crunch

Published 25th Nov 2008 by sophieh

It can be tough to keep your salon staff motivated at the best of times, but during times of finanicial hardship it's even more challenging.

HJ's Business Director of the Year, Andrew Phouli of Rush, London, offers his top tips for motivating staff during the credit crunch.

Always be positive

Teams will follow the leader, so when you're positive, your team will be positive and subsequently produce great results. Rather than being negative and worrying that you're business will be badly affected, turn it around and believe that this recession will not affect you. People are always looking for ways to treat themselves that don't cost a fortune - a visit to the hairdressers not only makes them look good, but feel better too. Very often hairdressing bucks the trend and does well within a recession.

Be a good listener

Be available to anyone who is feeling the pressure and try to give advice where you can. Be positive when giving advice to your team. They will walk away feeling stronger. Give them 100% of your attention and time, encourage them with positive feedback, and let them know you are always there if they need you.

Arrange team days

A day out or an evening meal together can build up a team's morale. It will bring the team closer together and make them stronger as a team, which will help achieve the best results.

Introduce discount schemes

Bring in a friends and family discount scheme on products and services. This is a great way to make staff feel valued and will also have a positive effect on business, which is good for everyone.

Do your research

Search the internet/newspapers for tips on how to save money and share these with your staff. This will demonstrate that you are aware of the situation, but on top of it. New ideas are always a good motivator, as the team can work with each other to produce results.