Detoxing Difficult Workers

When working with aesthetics business managers, one of the biggest complaints I hear is about staff: their attitude, levels of motivation, gossiping, and unwillingness to be a part of a bigger picture.

As a salon owner myself, I know how frustrating it feels and to despair about how to get a team operating at peak performance without having to endure bad behaviour in the process. Equally, staff members who love their work can be dragged down by fellow workers’ toxic traits.

The reality is, the negative behaviour we see in other people is often what we express ourselves. The key is to identify what you are doing wrong and correct it in order to make positive changes in your life and in your business.

I have taken three of the most common toxic traits I hear complaints about and suggest ideas for change – applicable to both business owners and the people who work for them:

• Having negative thoughts. You know the type; the person who hangs on every bad thing that has happened to them, what they have had to endure and how unfair it is. These people are a drain on existence. You can change the way you think by examining the inner dialogue you have from one that criticises, complains and destroys confidence to one that praises, motivates and congratulates. Try it and notice the change, whether you are in charge or an employee.
• Playing the victim. These people feel that they have no control or power to change anything in their lives. Thinking this way keeps their mindset small and so they can never move forward or achieve success. Goodness, if I had given up when I felt the world was caving in on me and my salon was destroyed by natural disasters the week before Christmas with a full appointment book, I would never be here telling story. The mind is very powerful: realise that you can change things if you put your mind to it and recognise your own special gifts. This makes the difference between enjoying your life or drowning in sorrow.
• Taking things too personally. We all love praise but sometimes it is necessary to also be open for constructive criticism too, so we can learn and grow. If a manager is talking to you about something they don’t like about your work, as long as they can give you opportunities for rectifying it or making changes to improve, then take that as a positive. It’s not a reason to sulk, retreat and not try. Step up to the challenge and be a better person for it.

These are just a few of the things we all have to deal with every day. Having the strategies and tools to help you overcome these toxic traits can mean the difference between life being a drag and empowering you to success.

* Julie Hyne is the founder of Business 4 Beauty, an image management consultancy:  business4beauty.com