Managing relationships for a healthier salon business

Preserving healthy relationships with everyone we deal with is vital for a healthier salon business, says Ian Egerton. Excluding partners, family and friends (which can be complex enough at times) we have to manage relationships with business partners, employees, clients, suppliers, banks, tax office, accountant, the council, trades people and the list goes on! I am sure, at some point we have all hit the metaphorical wall when dealing with any of the previously mentioned; and when we do reach ‘that point’, all sense of diplomacy has typically flown out the window. So how do we keep our cool, and why should we even bother? The primary objective of maintaining ones composure is to preserve a healthy relationship. It is of course good for your health to manage stress, but is truly beneficial to the people you are interacting with if you can get along in a friendly professional manor. Theodore Roosevelt once said "The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” How true! See opportunities – not obstacles When we are busy and things are not going our way, it is easy to see people as an obstacle to achieving our goals; we may perceive others as barriers or distractions to getting the job done! So imagine the ultimate objective; the very best thing that you could wish for in the “relationship”. By being positive, seeing opportunity you manage to help others to see a mutually beneficial opportunity. Take it a step further, define the impact of your relationships; identify how each relationship affects your ability to achieve, not only your business goals but those of your staff your business partners, suppliers and associates? Set priorities, you can’t tackle all the relationships at once, so identify the most important in terms of your business success? The most crucial relationship may be one that is the most challenging to deal with, likewise the most rewarding. Lead by example Consider what you bring to the relationship, but remember it is not all about you. How can you help your potential new business colleague in a way that serves both of your needs? In almost all cases, better communication will be a major part of your plan, be positive, consider how that can be best achieved to avoid negative conflict and remember you may need to give a little to get a lot! Dwight D. Eisenhower said "You do not lead by hitting people over the head, that's assault, not leadership." ICO Management Services,  www.SalonPerformance.net