Beauty Salon Manager's Handbook

Author: Deng Chuang / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features:
Four, The Relationship Between the Store Manager and the Boss
Under normal circumstances, there are no employees in a company who do not want to maintain a good relationship with the boss, and store managers are no exception. If a store manager has poor relationships with colleagues, it is at most just a case of them exchanging cold glances and treating each other as strangers. However, if a store manager cannot get along with the boss, not only will they feel frustrated, but the consequences could also be very serious. Generally, it would either lead to the store manager resigning voluntarily or being dismissed by the boss. As a store manager, due to the nature of their work, they often have to get close to the boss. In such situations, it can easily lead to many misunderstandings. On one hand, the store manager is the boss's most loyal employee; on the other hand, they are also the spokesperson for the employees in the boss's presence. If a subordinate is misunderstood by the boss, the store manager can vigorously advocate for them, plead on their behalf, and do their best to protect them. In this case, even if the store manager gets close to the boss in other situations, the boss will still see them as an upright person, the subordinates will not think they are flattering the boss, and they will still view them as a close partner. However, achieving this is not easy.
1. How to Get Along with the Boss
First, you need to understand your boss's background, work habits, career goals, and likes and dislikes. Only by truly understanding them can you choose the best timing and approach to discuss ideas, work, and all necessary matters with the boss, ensuring that the conversation is engaging and earns the boss's appreciation. A beauty salon store manager said, "I have to 'care' about the boss. If I don't 'care' about him, I might unknowingly offend him."
Second, communication with the boss requires strategy. To gain the boss's agreement and support, you must be thorough, consider multiple reliable options, and present the matter in the right way at the right time, capturing the essence concisely. When the boss is speaking, you should listen attentively and maintain eye contact as much as possible. A beauty salon owner said, "I absolutely dislike assistants who need to tell me the same thing twice."
Third, like other industries, successful bosses in the beauty industry are generally positive and optimistic. They also appreciate subordinates who share the same attitude. Therefore, avoid using words like "difficulty," "danger," or "failure" in front of the boss, even if you are facing a critical situation. You must handle it yourself. Additionally, when interacting with the boss, you should have strong emotional control and not let personal feelings like joy, anger, or sorrow affect your interactions. At all times, maintain the boss's image, but do not praise or flatter them unprincipledly. Some bosses may have made their fortune not through work skills but through capital. In such cases, do not look down on them, as they might kick you out. In the workplace, to earn the boss's favor, you should step up to challenges rather than chase benefits. When the boss assigns tasks, show enthusiasm and confidence, leading the employees by example to implement them. If you cannot complete the task, report the detailed situation to the boss as soon as possible. Never promise to do something you cannot.
Another universal principle is to maintain a distance. Do not become too close to the boss, especially not to the point of involving yourself in their personal emotions, particularly with a female boss. If you misjudge the boundaries, you might bring unnecessary trouble upon yourself.
2. Precautions When Getting Along with the Boss
(1) Strive to Understand the Boss's Intentions
If the store manager and the boss have conflicting positions, it will inevitably affect the entire beauty salon's work and also damage their relationship. Therefore, the store manager must strive to understand the boss's intentions, consider issues from the boss's perspective, analyze them objectively, and then decide on the next steps. In fact, as a boss, they may sometimes issue work orders that everyone dislikes. If the store manager always holds a resentful attitude toward the boss's stance and orders, they will be unable to properly implement the boss's intentions and complete the tasks assigned to them.
(2) Provide Helpful Opinions and Information
For work to proceed effectively, information is indispensable. The higher up the management hierarchy, the earlier the boss needs accurate information. However, gathering this information alone is not easy. As a store manager, you should do your best to convey business and management-related information that the boss has not yet grasped, so that the boss can make informed decisions.
(3) Obey the Boss's Instructions and Commands
To ensure work proceeds effectively, it is important to offer your own opinions. However, everyone cannot just do things according to their own ideas, or else work efficiency will decrease. Therefore, when the boss issues instructions or commands, you must follow them. Unless the boss's instructions exceed your capabilities or clearly harm the store's interests if followed, you must absolutely obey. Additionally, if you cannot obey, you must clearly explain the reasons to the boss. Of course, the boss's instructions and commands to the store manager are limited to work-related matters. If the boss asks the store manager to handle personal matters, you can certainly refuse if it is inappropriate. However, to maintain good relationships and avoid hindering work, when refusing, you must pay attention to the method.