Here’s how to attract talent, make the right hires, and lead your business to success

Of all the items on your (very long) to-do list when opening your own self-care business, assembling your team might be the most critical. Without talented service providers and a sharp administrative team, you’ll struggle to keep things operating smoothly and build long-term client relationships. To attract, hire, and train the best possible employees, you’ll need strong leadership skills and a bulletproof strategy. Keep these steps in mind as you begin your hiring journey and you’ll be well on your way to putting together your dream team.

Step 1: Finding your leadership style

Running your own business is a thrilling endeavor, but being the one to make all of the important decisions can be stressful. Before making a single hire, think about the kind of leader you want to be. Start by using positive and negative examples from your own employment history as inspiration — what did your favorite bosses do right? Where did the less successful managers fall short?

Keep in mind that you’re always leading by example whether you mean to or not. If you have shortcomings of your own, such as an inability to maintain work/life balance, your providers might feel like they have to work long hours to gain your favor. No boss is perfect, but with a healthy dose of self-awareness and a willingness to adapt, you’ll be well on your way to  coaching employees to meet their goals. 

Step 2: Determining key job roles

Once you’ve begun to establish your leadership style, it’s time to think about the job roles you want to fill. This will vary by type of business: For hair salons, you’ll need stylists and colorists; spa owners, on the other hand, might be searching for aestheticians and massage therapists. Aside from service providers, you’ll need front and back-of-house teams to help keep things running smoothly. That means receptionists, assistants, and sanitation specialists.

Many budding business owners are operating on tight budgets, so you may not be able to fill out your entire roster right away. Do the math to determine what kind of staffing you can afford and sort your job roles by the ones you absolutely need and the “nice to have” options. While skilled self-care providers are used to multitasking and can take over the front desk or run inventory in a pinch, the goal is to let them focus on what they do best while your administrative team handles the other details. Keep this in mind before creating an unbalanced team that leaves providers scrambling to handle non-service-related tasks.

Keep in mind that just because you can’t afford a dedicated front desk team or inventory manager right now doesn’t mean you never will. Put a plan into place so that you can take active steps toward building your dream team as your business grows.

Step 3: Attracting talent

To be the best, you have to hire the best — but you can’t do that unless they know how to apply for the job. When writing job descriptions, provide as many details as possible. Start with the position itself: What’s the role? What responsibilities will the potential employee have? What kind of experience or education do candidates need to qualify?

It’s important to be transparent about the pay and benefits as well. Provide a salary range if you’re hiring full-time staff; if your business uses a booth rental model, outline contract details and payment structures. Finally, describe the company culture and let your brand voice shine through. Your applicants will be evaluating you just as much as you’re evaluating them, so your job descriptions should let them know whether or not they’ll be a good fit.

Step 4: Hiring the right team

After you’ve assembled a suitable pool of applicants, it’s time to set up interviews. Treat these interviews like learning opportunities, not interrogations. Be prepared to ask questions, but it’s just as important to listen. After all, there’s only so much a resume and cover letter can tell you.

In a service-based industry, your service providers’ skills and experience will play a big role in their hiring eligibility, but those aren’t the only factors to consider. Will they be a good culture fit? Are they able to handle hectic days and common challenges? Do they have friendly personalities that will make clients want to keep coming back? Keep an open mind and be sure to get a clear, well-rounded picture of each applicant before deciding whether or not to hire them.

When you’re recruiting top talent, expect them to ask how you’ll support them. Be prepared to have a conversation about career growth and how your business can offer the type of progression they’re looking for.

Step 5: Onboarding for success

You did it! You passed your first major test of leadership by attracting the right talent and hiring a killer team. Set them up for success with a thorough onboarding program that offers employees support during those critical first days and weeks. Onboarding plays a critical role in staff retention; according to Indeed, as much as 20% of turnover occurs during the first 45 days of employment. Additionally, 90% of employees decide whether or not they want to stay at a business long-term within the first six months.

So what makes a successful onboarding program? First, make sure your new hires have the resources they need as they get acclimated to your self-care business. They’ll surely have questions along the way, so they should know where to seek answers, whether that’s in an employee manual or from a manager. As new hires familiarize themselves with their schedules and core job responsibilities, incorporate social aspects as well. Give them a chance to meet with your whole team and integrate them into the company culture. Evaluate their progress as they go and don’t rush it.

If you need support as you onboard your new squad, resources like Boulevard Academy can take some of the weight off your shoulders. With onboarding checklists for owners and managers, the front desk team, and service providers, you’ll be able to streamline the process and make sure you’re hitting the important points.

The hiring process is a time to put those leadership skills to the test. By using transparent and thoughtful job descriptions, an organized interview process, and thorough onboarding, you’ll be well on your way to making your self-care business a place clients will love.