Top 3 Things You Should Never Share With Clients
Have you heard the joke about the guy who dated someone too many times? He had to marry her just because she already knew too much about him.
This made me think of salon professionals who spill the beans on something that might come back to haunt them with their coworkers or clients. It’s easy to slip up because our work is so intimate.
What is it about a beauty specialist’s touch that is so disarming? After a few visits, guests can begin to feel very familiar, don’t they? And like all relationships, the conversations evolve, become meaningful and more intimate. You both might have children and share the challenge of homeschooling. Perhaps you are both single with similar lifestyles and living situations. There are also those guests for whom we feel great empathy due to their situation. Multiple conditions invite us to let our guard down with our salon guests.
The connection we develop eventually blurs professional boundaries. It’s easy to forget that the real reason a guest is in your chair is to get their hair, nails, skin or brows done. And remember, guests like to be on your good side. They want to create an environment where you can perform at your best. So they’re polite, listen and empathize with your conversation.
You might have guessed that I’m a strong advocate of keeping work relationships as professional as possible. Why? I’ve experienced the negative repercussions from turning a relationship based on guidance and expertise into a personal one.
Every salon professional has a gut feeling about each client. You may think you know who you can let your guard down with and not. Right or wrong, there are three things I would NEVER share with someone I see for a paid service, no matter how friendly they are:
1. Your Financial Situation
Don’t let your guests know you’re behind on your bills. Don’t let them know you’re flush with cash either. There is always judgment attached to any financial situation. Here’s how: if you’re struggling with money, there must be something wrong with you. If you’re doing well, you don’t deserve a tip.
Beginning salon professionals can feel ashamed of their poor financial situation. Don’t spend any energy on that. Let that go. Everyone is poor when they start. Be proud of where you are today and keep your eye on where you will be tomorrow.
2. Your Love Life
A relationship is never neutral. It’s either going well or not, and each provides lots of chatter to whisper into a willing ear. Take this conversation to your inner circle—only your closest friends and loved ones. Why? Because people love to gossip and judge on your ability to attract and maintain healthy relationships. Too many, too few, too often—that’s your business. Keep it to yourself. And your love life is not only about romantic love. This includes sharing your ups and downs with your parents and best friends. If they ask, get into the habit of saying, “all is well, thank you.”
3. Your Next Move
What you are going to do next is about you. No matter how excited you feel, there is a thin line between sharing your next move and your dreams. Sharing your dreams with your clients is great. Your next career move or goal is not on that dream list. From a centered place in your being, you realize you will need plenty of motivation and support. Sadly, not every client is a well-wisher.
Clients come to trade a service for money because you are an excellent professional. Keep that cycle healthy with a thousand other topics that can’t cause harm to you or your career. A silent love life, discretion around your money, and never disclosing your plans until they’re ready is my formula for a happy salon career.
Book your FREE strategy session with me to learn more about creating a healthy working environment for you and your salon clients.
