There are ten areas of your business to set boundaries and a system to set yourself up for success. Protect your time and money by creating a plan. We need to be honest with ourselves about what is acceptable. Create consistency with expectations for yourself, your team, and your clients. When you don’t have a guide on how to handle these situations, then it may leave you feeling burnt out, frustrated, and possibly losing clients. Start today with creating your game plan on how you want to operate your business. A lack of boundaries invites a lack of respect.
Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others. - Brene Brown
“People learn how to treat you based on what you accept from them.”
– unknown
1. Returns- How many weeks. Return money? What if they used it all? Exchange for products of equal value? Come from a place of understanding. If it were the best on the market, then everyone would use it and feel satisfied. Think about the time that you disliked a product. You work hard for your money, and I bet that the client does too.
2. Redos- How many weeks? You did what they asked for, and now they want it different? Set boundaries on what is acceptable? Come from a place of compassion and understanding. It always is a humbling experience. Remember, you can’t make everyone happy.
3. Refunds- How many weeks? What is the policy? Phone conversation? In-salon visit first? Notification of dissatisfaction? Even if you give them everything, they want it still will not be enough. You can not make everyone happy. Warning if during the consultation they say they never like their hair, then it may be safe to say they still won’t like it after you do it. Make sure they sign a contract and understand your policy and boundaries. Be kind even if they are not but know that you do not need to tolerate disrespect (Yelling and swearing). I would say it’s best to part ways you don’t want them as a client.
4. Available 24/7- How to set up appointments? Text messages? Dm? How often do you check? Email? Phone call? Timeframe 24 hours to connect with a client. If you are texting and DM’ing at all hours…so will they. I see you, Mary texting me every four weeks at 2 am about needing a haircut. 🙄
5. No Call No Show- First, this is so rude. Especially when we know, you received the text and email reminder. Do you charge? How do you prevent it in the future? When to call it quits. How many warnings before it’s not a good fit. They are taking up your time when we all trade time for money in this industry. You could have put your guest that was on the waiting list there.
6. Always Late- What is the timeframe?? 15 mins then rebook? How to put this policy in place. They are not able to receive the full experience or receive the proper service, which then puts the stress on you if you do not fill her expectations.
7. Discounts- Always wanting something for free or on sale. Stand your grounds. If it’s always available, there is no urgency or anything special about it. It is not fair to everyone else that pays full price. There is one thing to be generous with your time, but careful because people will take it for granted.
8. You are squeezing in clients- Last-minute Mary needs to get in. You don’t want to lose her but she needs to know that you can not always squeeze her in which causes interruption on your other guests and their services. Re-booking is a must to build a strong business. It’s one thing to be flexible, but clients will start to expect it. Teach her and show her why rebooking will create the best experience
9. New Guests- Inform them of your policies. Add it to your website and receipts. Take control of how you want to operate your business. You want to provide your clients with the best experience and set the expectations of how you do business. Save yourself time, money, and a whole lot of stress
10. Saying No- Be ok with saying no. Does it serve you, your team, your business, or your guest? When we have a flexible schedule, we tend to say yes, I will come in early, or yes, I will stay late- only to leave you exhausted and feeling abused. Most times, people do not know they are doing this to or are just clueless, but it isn’t their fault. You always have the option and choice to say no. You allowed this behavior. It may not always be pleasing to one's ears, but you have self-respect, and if no is a part of the boundaries you had set, then be courageous and say no. No will serve you more in the long run
