Jenni Gilbert How often do you walk into a salon, spa or clinic and pick up on “the vibe”? It’s one of the first things we notice about a space – how it feels.
When you walk into a room and feel the atmosphere is so heavy you “could cut it with a knife”, are you talking about humidity in the air? Dense fumes? No. Whether you know it or not, you are referring to energy.
It may not be scientifically understood or measurable but it can always be felt and can have a profound emotional, even physical impact.
Humans are sensitive to the energy of people, things and physical spaces. We are always exchanging energy with each other and our environment. The more sensitive a person is to this, the more intense and overwhelming interacting with others is.
So if the energy is bad in your salon, spa or clinic space, among your team, clients will feel it, too … and vote “no” accordingly.
“When we use the word `energy’ to describe a mood, an environment, a perception, you are referring to an actual thing, albeit unseen and subtle,” says Deirdre Light, co-founder of Manifesto of Light essential oils and therapies, whose Avatar Air division is called upon by major corporate entities to improve the energy of their spaces, thereby productivity and outcome.
“There is a subtle bio-energy that flows through all organic life,” Deirdre says. “It goes by many names and is sometimes referred to as chi, or life force.
“This energy is expressed as an electromagnetic vibrational frequency. The higher the frequency, the lighter the energy.
“We talk about it in everyday conversational terms probably without even realising it.
“We `get a vibe’ about something. When we feel unwell or melancholy we `feel low’ or just `don’t have the energy’ and when we’re on top of our game we’re `energised’. What we’re talking about is vibrational frequency.
“When you meet someone and you don’t really know why but they `don’t have a good feeling’, you’re tapping into that person’s energy.
“Maybe they just had a fight with someone, or maybe they are in a bad mood, lonely, depressed or anxious.
“Some of us are so incredibly sensitive to it that another person’s negative energy can be almost impossible to be around.”
SPACE CLEARING
Space clearing – essentially doing a clean sweep of the atmosphere – is for some of the top spa and wellness destinations across the globe as much a priority as their physical cleanliness, according to Rachael White, healer and creator of Archangel Aromatherapy.
“I have met so many therapists who’ve told me how unwell they’ve felt after working on particular clients,” she says.
“One told me that, during a bodywork session, she felt something happen to her. She was unable to return to the industry for a couple of years because she continued to feel unwell and was very vulnerable to other people’s energy.
“A cohesive and happy workplace contributes to positive energy of a space. If there are unresolved issues, these can manifest as negative energy and will set the tone of the environment. It won’t matter how may team- building days you send your staff on.
“It’s not often that a client will complain that the `space’ didn’t feel right’, making them uncomfortable, so you will never know why you have a decline in appointments.
“A space that is `energetically well’, kept clean and high vibrationally will not only support your clients’ healing but transform your business.”
SOMETHING IN THE AIR
Buildings devoid of nature starve the body. Buildings whose air is vitalised with high frequency essential oil blends (essence of rose being the highest) do the opposite, according to Deirdre Light.
With her life and business partner, Clive Newland, Deirdre runs Avatar Air, a consultancy established to assist businesses to function at higher levels of health, efficiency and consciousness.
“One client we worked with was conducting a challenging program for their staff,” she says.
“The participants were reluctant to attend, company politics were rife and the training rooms had no windows, hence no fresh air.
“In short, resistance was palpable. Within 10 minutes of diffusing a particular blend [through the air conditioning] designed to clear the head and activate the gut (second brain), the trainer had 100 percent participation in the room.
“This blend was used in a variety of training situations, always with the same outcome. People volunteered they felt `lighter’, the learning was easier and they felt less fatigued at the end.
“Equally as important, the trainer herself felt energised and vibrant after a full day’s facilitation.
“Given the millions of dollars invested in corporate training in Australia, often with questionable outcomes due to lack of participation and attention, the diffusing of particular oils is about to become a measurable practical necessity to ensure training budgets are well spent. MANIFESTOOFLIGHT.COM.AU
LEAD THE WAY
You may have the experience, knowledge, skill, and a long history of success, but if you approach a project, meeting, new job, an employee, your boss, or a client with infected or negative energy, you should also be prepared to take responsibility for the consequences, says Shari Bench, co-founder of Trillium Healthcare Consulting in the US, a certified trainer on career enhancement:
“As a leader, your energy can determine the success of a meeting, a work day or your overall business.
“If you have an employee or co-worker who is struggling, have you considered how much responsibility you have in their performance?
“How are you dealing with your negative employees? Negativity is contagious. It may seem as if dealing with negative people is easier to simply ignore them.
“But many people are not aware of how negative energy is affecting you, or them.
“Begin with yourself: Are you generally a positive or negative person? Do you have a high or low energy level? How do others respond to you; relaxed or tense? “Do you find yourself being judgmental of others or open and accepting of diversity and new ideas? Do you harbour anger rather than letting these feelings go? Do you feel mostly happy, or sad and frustrated?
“As leader, you should care about creating a positive environment. As an employee concerned with your work environment, consider you are as responsible for creating a positive environment as your boss and your co- workers. Take time to observe and create a new awareness of the type of energy that is most common in your business.”
DEALING WITH NEGATIVITY
The majority of employees spend most of their waking day at work – and most employees want to feel good about their workplace, Shari continues.
“How a leader deals with energy can directly determine how well an employee performs. Identifying a negative person does not have to result in staff turnover. If you begin with yourself, many others will naturally follow your lead and contribute toward a positive environment.
“However, if you identify a negative employee who is not supporting the environment you are expecting to create, it is critical to deal with this behaviour. “If, after giving the employee an opportunity to improve, they do not respond favourably, as a leader you cannot ignore this behaviour.
“Evaluate your management style and look for ways to create a positive, supportive and rewarding process. Reward the positive improvements and mentor the employees who are not exceeding expectations. Positive reinforcement can quickly shift energy and build momentum toward your desired results.
“And energise your team. A typical workday can drain the energy out of your employees. Look for ways to create energy boosts throughout the day, in meetings and throughout projects. This can be as simple as frequent short breaks, laughter, and creating a very open environment where fresh ideas and creativity are rewarded.”
