7 ways to delegate more effectively in your salon

Dawn Gregory, owner of R Retreat in Oadby, Leicestershire, which won the Midlands Boutique Salon of the Year Award at the 2017 Professional Beauty Regional Awards, explains why delegating effectively is crucial to lead your business.

As a very passionate owner, manager and therapist, it can be hard to juggle all the jobs that are necessary to run a professional beauty salon. It can all become quite chaotic – endless list making, with a mix of staff meetings and a dash of customer care, swirled in with maintenance checks and a slice of marketing.

Having a fast-growing business means you must keep up, and managing your time and admitting that you can’t do everything is the first step to becoming more time efficient.

Time management, delegation and outsourcing have made a huge impact on my life and business.

This is how I did it. This is my seven-point plan of action: 

1. Identify your team’s strengths and interests

   One of my senior therapists loves organising, so I trained her in stock taking, training/inductions and cashing up, and delegating these tasks has given her a sense of importance and given me back valuable time. 

2. Plan everything in advance
   

   Meetings, training, holidays, workshops – as far as you can. Even book out your Christmas event for 2018 now to avoid any clashes. There’s no time like the present and the beginning of the year is as good a time as any.

3. Be on top of your maintenance checks
   

   Book them in early and around quieter times to prevent any disruption. 

4. Marketing and social media
   

   I decided to outsource my salon’s marketing and social media so it could be done by qualified marketers who are dedicated to creating a buzz around my business. I had to do this to let go. It was too much and was really merging with my family life.
   
   We have a meeting every three months to discuss and plan fresh ideas and it’s an absolute God send because I get reports on our growth, likes and shares. 

5. Learn to say no
   

   It’s a hard one but essential to avoid overloading your schedule. 

6. Identify your most efficient time of day

   Mine is early in the morning and late at night. I get so much done in this time. 

7. Have procedures for everything
   

   Do this and you won’t get bogged down in the day to day issues. 

Since implementing these small steps, my work-life balance is back on track.

Read our article on six ways stressed-out managers can find a work-life balance.