What color is the personality of a salon? Is it full of creative go-getters, or kind-hearted mother hens? Is it full of business-minded entrepreneurs, or people that need a constant push just to show up on time? Wherever your salon may be, however big or small, you’ll be working with a group of very different personalities.

For Adrienne, this is nothing new. Having spent years in retail, and now just as many in salons, she can really understand that coworkers can be much easier to get along with when you understand their personalities. What makes them tick? What ticks them off? What are their core values? What are their real goals? This is the first installment in a two-week blog on personalities in the salon.

One of the best exercises to perform at a salon meeting is coming up with a team mission statement. Break into small groups and have each group pick five core values from a list. Examples could be freedom, spirituality, excellence, creativity, integrity, respect. Then have each group pick five action verbs. Examples could be dream, dedicate, empower, encourage, perform, inspire. There are so many!

When each team is finished, write the values on a board for everyone to see and hear. You’ll notice several will pick the same ones. You’ll also notice what really makes your team tick. These are their hot buttons. As an owner or manager, this is where you can really be the wind beneath someone’s wings. Your team has told you what’s really important to them. It’s up to you to discover why they chose each one.

Now that you have a bunch of verbs and values listed, take the top ones and form your team mission statement. Vote as a group on the best one. Post it where the team can constantly be reminded of it. Start off your staff meetings with it. Start each morning with it. Let the clients know about it. Have them involved in making it reality. Keep moving toward making that mission a daily vibe in the salon, and watch your team grow!

—Heather, success coach