The document discusses establishing and enforcing standards in a salon. It recommends defining standards in writing, sharing them with employees, explaining the rationale and benefits, getting agreement on compliance, and documenting standards in job descriptions. Standards should be consistently enforced through evaluations, with coaching for those not meeting standards and consequences like warnings or termination for continued non-compliance. Leaders must demonstrate the standards themselves to effectively set expectations for staff. Overall, standards aim to achieve consistency that benefits both the salon business and its employees.

1. Setting Salon Standards
Lauren
Stiles

2.  What are appropriate standards?
 Why are standards important?
 How do standards help you and your staff?
 How do you establish standards for your salon?
 How do you enforce standards in your salon?
 How do you get employees on board with the standards
program?
 How can you use the Position Agreement?

3.  Your goal with a salon standards program
is to achieve salon CONSISTENCY with your
entire staff.
 It ensures and certifies that salons and
personnel are following proper processes
and procedures.
 Standards keep everyone on the same page
 Standards measure progress and growth

4.  Salon Operations Standards
 Staff Training Standards
 Guest Service Standards
 Salon Décor Standards
 Stylist Image Standards
 Stylist Business Etiquette and Performance Standards
 Manager Business Etiquette and Performance Standards

5.  Define the standards in writing (employee manual)
 Share the standards with the employees
 Explain the Rationale for standards
 Explain the benefits
 Explain compliance
 Set the expectations for compliance
 Get agreement on the standards and compliance
 Explain and outline consequences

6.  Standards should be consistent across all
employees
 Document them in your Salon Manual or
Handbook
 Document standards in your position
agreements/job description
 Ensure new employees are given standards as
soon
as they start (if not before)
 Standards are dynamic and should be used in

7.  Benefits to the salon
 More professional place to work
 Better reputation
 Consistent guest experience
 Consistent staff relations
 Increased sales
 Profitability
 Benefits to each employee
 Better relations with colleagues
 Better relations with management
Better service mean better tips
 Improved career skills
 Training (technical, retails sales, and guest service)
 Profitable salon means continued employment

8.  Publish your standards
 Have a group meeting with all staff
 Post Them
 Solicit questions (privately)
 Distribute job descriptions
 “One-on-Ones”
 Get signed copies of job descriptions
and employee manual
acknowledgements on file

9.  All employees must meet minimum standards
 Set time frame for implementation
 Establish Goals around compliance, I.E.
 Month 1- Each stylist must meet 50% of salon standards
 Month 2- Each stylist must meet 75% of salon standards
 Month 3- Each stylist must meet 90% of salon standards
 Employees failing to meet the standards will receive coaching /
counseling
 Employees who fail to meet minimum standards within four months
should expect consequences

10.  How will the standards be
enforced?
 Secret Shopper
 POS Reports
 Training
 Performance reviews
 Make it clear that the standards are
NOT just words on paper but
required behavior that will be

11.  Guest Service Performance Evaluation
 Guest Feedback Form
 Salon Operations Evaluation Form
 Manager Evaluation
 Stylist Evaluation
 Owner Evaluation
 Salon Décor Evaluation
 Interior
 Exterior

12. You have the option to selectively change standards
 What happens when you change standards to often:
 Lose credibility with employees – opens the door for
negotiating on any / all standards.
 Reduces your salon’s performance
 Provide reduced guest service.

13.  Standards should be enforced like any
other salon discipline situation
 Apply all standards fairly
 With an escalating penalty
 Reward for early adoption
 Coaching to get to the standards
 Counseling for non-compliance
 Verbal Warning for non-compliance
 Written warning for non-compliance
 Termination for non-compliance

14.  It takes time for change to occur
 Do not expect compliance overnight
 Recognize employees embracing
the standards early
 Reward them
 Use training where appropriate
 Have a “Salon Makeover Party” with before and after
pictures to make dress code standards more fun

15. Set
Goals
Highe
r
Standards are a Minimum
Bar

16.  As an owner or manager, you must lead by
example
 Be in compliance with your own dress code
every time you are in a salon
 Demonstrate excellent guest service
 Pitch in and help clean the salon
 Walk the Walk

17.  Standards can help your salons become better
places:
 For your guests to get services
 For your employees to work
  To own
Standards can help:
 Your employees achieve their goals
 Your managers have a positive
relationship with the employees
 You to have a positive relationship
with all employees
 Standards are:
 Important
 Non-Negotiable
 Fairly defined and

18.  What are appropriate standards?
 Why are standards important?
 How do standards help you and your staff?
 How do you establish standards for your salon?
 How do you enforce standards in your salon?
 How do you get employees on board with the standards
program?
 How can you use the Position Agreement?

19. What Did You Learn