In a world where we need to stand for something, as the saying goes, we will fall for anything.
Lorenzo Colangelo, business coach and hairdresser really does walk the walk and talk the talk. He runs a successful Tunbridge Wells based business, The Gallery, and his belief about value driving profitability is proven with his own salon as the most amazing case study.
To help us all keep our focus, drive and structure, Lorenzo has written a few pointers to keep business building, team investing and clients coming with a tried and tested value-driven strategy. This is where collaboration comes in. Instead of imposing a set of corporate values, Lorenzo believes in bringing in the team, so these are collective values that represent the body of your team…
- Bringing the team together: whether that is a team day, a team meeting or a blue-sky thinking session, coming together and having everyone invested is vital to belief and success.
- Talking points: have a clear idea of the talking points but be open to the team taking it in a direction you hadn’t expected and listen to what they are bringing, this is valuable stuff!
- Focus: encourage input on integrating individual values with the salon’s larger vision. This approach strengthens internal dynamics of our salon but also set us apart as a model of value-driven operation.
- Summarise: bring together the collective thinking and share, and more importantly, reflect it back so the team can see their impact and feel their comments are integrated. Collective values are crucial for creating a cohesive, resilient, and empowered team capable of navigating the business world with integrity and purpose.
- Measurement: the real challenge is measuring something as intangible as values. But while you can’t put creativity, teamwork, or passion on a spreadsheet, you can create systems that reflect the success of these qualities in your salon. For example, customer reviews will often reflect the atmosphere and experience they felt in your salon. Positive comments about the service, the vibe, or how they felt cared for are indirect indicators that your team is living the values of the business.
- Celebrate: It is important to celebrate when your team embodies the salon’s values. Positive reinforcement not only boosts morale but also signals to the team that these values are essential for the success of the business.
- Follow Through & Training: I am a great believer in mentorship, this is essential to give life to these values and see them have meaning and continue in the business. Addressing the values of the team through professional development makes them feel seen, while upskilling reflects our commitment to inclusivity and diversifies our services to reach a wider market.
- These efforts create a positive feedback loop, where the values become a part of the everyday fabric of the salon. Over time, they won’t just be something you talk about - they’ll be the foundation of your success.