It’s been said that people don’t leave jobs; they leave bosses. That’s something to seriously consider, especially these days when the spa industry is experiencing a shortage of estheticians, for example. Katherine Johnson, an economist and senior research fellow with the Global Wellness Institute, in an interview last year with the Globe and Mail said that everyone her organization talks to in the spa business indicates that their number one challenge is recruitment and talent. She added that the industry will need 500,000 new therapists by 2018.
With competition so keen, you want to be the boss that no one wants to leave. Being everyone’s friend is not the answer either. There are several traits that set great bosses apart. Some of them may come naturally; but all of them can be developed. Here are some of the traits that employees want and look for in a boss, especially today’s millennials who seek companies that invest in their future and give them feedback that helps them grow.
Set clear expectations
No one likes to work in uncertainty, wondering if they are getting the job done to meet management’s expectations. That’s why it’s so important as soon as a new team member comes on board to clarify what you expect of them and what “getting the job done well” means to you. But setting expectations doesn’t end after the initial discussion. Providing feedback and having discussions about your expectations should be ongoing. Meetings don’t always have to be formal, either. If someone is responsible for managing retail products, you might want to have a chat with them when they are arranging new inventory and discuss how to introduce new products to clients or how to better cross sell items.
Inspire
When you are passionate about building your spa or massage practice and offering great service to clients, it inspires your team. Show how much you care about the profession, the clients and the business and those around you will get “on board” with the same enthusiasm.
Praise
Everyone needs to feel appreciated and while a paycheck counts for a lot, a word of praise from the boss or manager can make someone’s day or week. When you acknowledge a job well done, you also are encouraging employees to keep doing more of the same – or even better.
Be Fair
Employees respect their bosses and managers when they are fair. When you are fair, you don’t show favoritism. Even if you have employees you feel closer to than others, you want to make sure that no one gets preferential treatment and that everyone feels their contribution is equally important to the success of your spa or massage practice.
Mentor
Be part of your team’s professional development. Offer them the insights and knowledge that you’ve gained over the years. Being a mentor means not telling people what to do, but showing them how to do things and encouraging them to take risks.
These are just some of the traits that employees respect and value in their managers and bosses. Think about what you valued in people you worked for and how you would like to be treated as an employee. Then be the boss you would like to work for.