Goal-setting isn’t just a business buzzword – it’s a proven strategy for driving performance and motivating teams. For salons, spas, and clinics, clear and actionable targets can make all the difference, helping your staff stay focused while delivering exceptional client experiences. Companies that focus on their employees’ performance are 4.2 times more likely to outperform their peers – averaging 30% higher revenue growth.
As a salon, clinic, or spa owner or manager, you already understand the importance of aligning your team around shared goals. The real challenge, however, is in setting the right targets – ones that inspire and empower your team, while remaining achievable and measurable.
Whether you’re looking to boost retail sales, improve client retention, or simply keep your team inspired, we’re here to share actionable tips, with advice from industry leaders, on how to set your salon up for success.
Why Goal-Setting Works – The Psychology Behind the Success
Setting clear, measurable targets taps into the psychology of motivation and achievement. Goals provide a sense of direction and purpose, helping staff understand what’s expected, and how their work contributes to the success of your salon, clinic, or spa. Here’s why structured goal-setting matters:
- Fosters accountability: When everyone knows their targets, taking ownership of their performance is easier. Team members can see how their contributions make a difference.
- Boosts morale and motivation: Achieving smaller, incremental goals creates a sense of accomplishment, encouraging staff to stay engaged and driven.
- A roadmap for growth: Clear targets make progress measurable. Whether it’s improving retail sales or enhancing client retention, having defined benchmarks ensures you and your team know you’re on the right track.
Meghan Osbourne, owner of EYEFUL Beauty notes, “We use a level system where goals are tied to achieving promotions. These targets focus on key metrics such as retail sales, client retention, and referrals. This structure gives team members clear milestones to work toward and a tangible path for career growth.”
If you’re wondering where to start, remember that even small goals can have a big impact. By providing structure and celebrating achievements, you’ll create an environment where everyone is inspired to excel, boosting overall business performance as well as staff satisfaction.
How To Set Effective Staff Targets
Setting meaningful targets requires a structured approach. By following these steps, you can create goals that motivate your team, align with your salon, spa, or clinic’s growth objectives, and ensure consistent performance.
Understand Your Starting Point
Before setting new goals, take stock of your team’s current performance. Reviewing past metrics provides a baseline and highlights where improvements are needed. Look at data such as:
- Client retention rates
- Retail sales per team member
- Service bookings and rebooking percentages
Phorest’s Reporting Tools make this process straightforward by offering insights into individual and team performance trends. Armed with this data, you can set realistic goals tailored to each staff member’s strengths and areas for improvement.
Did you know: Goal-setting leads to better productivity and efficiency in workplaces?
Involve Your Team
Your staff will be more invested in hitting targets if they have a say in the process. Collaborative goal-setting fosters ownership and ensures the goals feel both fair and achievable.
“We have biweekly meetings that are set on the books to check in with staff and work on motivating them.” –Paige Harris, COO of Modern Salon and Spa
During team or one-on-one meetings, ask each staff member what they’d like to focus on. Discuss how their goals align with the salon, spa, or clinic’s broader objectives, and work together to set priorities. After all, a recent survey from Gallup indicated that employees involved in goal-setting are 3.6x more likely to be engaged in achieving their goals.
Use the Right Tools
Goal-setting is one thing – tracking and managing these goals is another. That’s where tools like Phorest’s Staff Goals come in. This feature lets you:
- Set individual or team-wide goals with ease.
- Provide staff with real-time updates on their progress, fostering transparency and accountability.
- Identify trends and celebrate milestones before the target period ends.
- Offer the team/individual a range of rewards based on their achievements.
“Phorest makes goal-setting simple and engaging with its in-app tracking. The team loves the daily updates, which turn progress into a fun and collaborative experience. We also encourage team members to set their personal goals, adding a layer of ownership and excitement to their growth.” – Meghan Osbourne
By combining a data-driven approach with tools that make goal-setting and tracking seamless, you’re giving your team the best chance to succeed.
How to Motivate Your Team to Hit Their Targets
Even the most well-planned goals can fall flat without the right motivation to drive your team. To keep everyone inspired and focused, it’s essential to foster an environment where success is recognised, effort is rewarded, and challenges are seen as opportunities for growth. Here are some proven tactics to help your team consistently hit their targets.
- Recognise Achievements: Recognition is one of the simplest – yet most powerful – motivators. Regularly acknowledge your team’s successes, both big and small, through verbal praise, team shout-outs, or even a small reward.
- Provide Regular Feedback: Consistent feedback is key to keeping staff aligned and motivated. Studies show that employees who receive regular feedback are 80% more likely to be fully engaged.
- Align Goals with Individual Aspirations: Staff are more likely to stay motivated when their targets resonate with their personal career goals. Take the time to understand each team member’s ambitions and tailor their targets accordingly.
- Celebrate as a Team: When your team hits a big milestone or collectively achieves a target, make it a moment worth celebrating. Whether it’s a team dinner, a small party, or a heartfelt thank-you, these moments reinforce the importance of working together toward shared success.
By combining recognition, incentives, feedback, and a focus on personal and team growth, you’ll create an environment where your staff not only aims to hit their targets, but feel genuinely excited about doing so.
Start Setting Your Team Up for Success
Goal-setting is more than just a management task; use it to inspire your team, drive performance, and unlock the full potential of your salon, clinic, or spa. By setting clear, achievable targets, providing the right tools, and fostering a culture of motivation, you empower your staff to take ownership of their success.
It isn’t just about hitting numbers – it’s about creating a shared vision where every team member feels valued and motivated to grow. When you align your team’s growth with your salon’s broader objectives, the results speak for themselves: increased productivity, higher morale, and a thriving business.
“Balance ambition with attainability. Targets should challenge your team while still feeling within reach. Regularly reassess goals to ensure they align with current performance and market trends, and always celebrate small wins along the way to keep the momentum going.” – Meghan Osbourne
Now it’s your turn. Start by reviewing your team’s performance, collaborating on meaningful goals, and implementing tools like Phorest’s Staff Goals to effortlessly track progress. When your team succeeds, your salon, clinic, or spa shines.
Phorest helps make setting & hitting targets easier