Work productivity is a top concern for salon owners. No matter how long you’ve been in business, you’d probably like to improve your personal efficiency along with the salon’s overall output.
Getting more done helps you gain a sense of control of your working day. Here are some simple, easy-to-implement strategies to help you take back your time and remind your business who’s boss.
Strategize your to-do list.
List out your tasks. Place an up arrow next to those that require more energy and focus, and a down arrow beside the ones that take less effort. Note how long you expect each task to take.
Tackle the “up arrows” during the times of the day when you feel at your sharpest. And, if you stick to your allocated times, you can easily pinpoint quick items to knock out in 10- or 15-minute time slots.
Prioritize your tasks.
Knowing what to tackle and when is key. One simple time management tool for prioritization is called the Urgent-Important Matrix. Divide your tasks into four categories:
1 - urgent and important
2 - not urgent, but important
3 - not important, but urgent
4 - not urgent and not important
Aim to work on ‘not urgent, but important’ tasks as much as possible.
Turn off your notifications.
Endless alerts seem like a small thing, but they can quickly throw your day off track. You don’t have control over who’s reaching out to you, but you do have control over how and when you see it.
Give yourself some focused head-down work by turning off your notifications, even for a couple of hours. At the same time, realize that we live in an era where it seems people have to get a response immediately, but guess what? They can and will wait to hear back from you.
On that note …
Find a quiet zone.
A distraction-filled environment can kill productivity. If necessary, put a ‘do not disturb’ sign on your door. If it’s impossible to focus undisturbed in your regular office space, carve out time elsewhere each day, such as a coffee shop.
Work according to your rhythm!
Some people arrive to work in the morning full of energy. Some need a strong coffee and an hour before their brains are fully charged. Others are at their peak once the sun’s gone down. Take note of when you are most naturally alert, and schedule the most difficult tasks for those times.
Delegate.
One of the biggest challenges all small business owners face is accepting they cannot do everything on their long list of responsibilities. Identify which tasks can be passed to someone else—and then follow through.
Stop multi-tasking.
Multi-tasking is a myth! Scientific research shows that jumping between tasks isn’t an efficient approach; on the contrary, it actually costs time and energy each time we switch. Instead of doing two or more things at once, tackle your to do-list one item at a time, and don’t move on until an item is completed.
Give yourself a break.
Or several. While taking breaks may feel counterproductive, studies show they’re good for productivity. Breaks are good for your physical and mental health, and can help re-energize you for the task at hand.
Go for a walk, have a coffee, water the plants, or whatever will get you up and about. Then come back refreshed.
(The exception here is when you’re in a ‘flow’ — a state of effortless productivity. If that’s the case, keep going!)
And finally …
Meeting less is more.
While meetings are essential for salon success, too many are productivity suckers that steal time and energy from the work of running a salon. Avoid unnecessary meetings; always have an agenda; don’t go off topic; and always get an outcome.
As in most areas of leadership, your team’s performance increases when you improve as an individual. As you work on leveling up personally, start to incorporate these tips to create a healthier and more productive working environment for your team.
Liz McKeon is a salon business coach and founder of The International Salon Business School. She’s the author of 30 Days to Beauty Business Success.
