Many years ago, someone told me when in doubt don’t act. But often that’s easier said than
done. The fact is that decision making is one of the key areas of responsibility when running any
business, including a spa or massage practice. Some decisions are easy to make or of little
consequence so that whatever you decide will be just fine. But at other times, there are
decisions to make that can significantly affect the growth and direction of the business. It’s
especially difficult to decide when your heart is leaning one way and your head the other.
When you are on the fence about which way to do, there are some steps you can take to make
a decision that has the best outcomes for your spa or massage practice. First make sure that
you have clearly identified the problem. For example, you may think the problem is a lack of
sufficient staff. However, the problem may really be that staff needs training to take on more
responsibility.
Another step to take, according to Maria Baratta, Ph.D, L.C.S.W., in “4 Steps to Making Better
Decisions,” is to carve out a time and find a quiet place to think where you can be alone and not
distracted by others or activity around you. For some, taking a walk or just being alone in your
kitchen can be a good way to be by yourself and let your mind freely explore your thoughts.
Dr. Baratta also suggests that you make sure the time is right to make whatever decision is
confronting you. If you are dealing with other issues in your life, you may not be in the best
frame of mind to make important decisions about next steps for your spa or massage practice.
Sometimes you don’t have an option. For example, if your rent has gone up considerably and
you need to decide if you should seek an alternative location, you may not have a lot of time to
decide what to do. With others, such as should you hire additional professionals to expand into
new massage services or skin care treatments, you can spend more time considering the pros
and cons.
In addition to finding the right time and place to make a decision, here are some other things to
help the process:
Research: Gather as much information as you can about the problem and your options. Make a
list of every possible alternative and then do research online or ask other professionals or
experts for their opinion. Don’t be held back by ideas that you think are silly. Some of the most
creative solutions are sparked by an idea that seems farfetched.
Consider the outcomes: Sometimes the best way to make a decision is to consider the
consequences of the action. For example, you may decide that you need to completely redesign
your spa or massage practice. However, the cost may cut into your profits and not necessarily
attract more clients. Maybe all you need to do is refresh your space with some paint and a few
new decorative items or fresh flowers.
Evaluate your final decision: When you come to a decision, spend time evaluating it and ensure
that you put into the place the right steps to make it happen. Doing so may help eliminate
hurdles along the way in seeing your decision through to implementation.
Making decisions can be easy. But making the “right decisions” takes time. Invest that time
since your spa or massage practice success depends on it.