Letting Go
A common difficulty we have as massage therapists is the self-imposed need to do everything. We are a “one-man band” and even though this can sound quite appealing in the beginning, the long-term reality is very different. Being a one man show loses its appeal if we operate like this long term.
The danger with doing everything yourself is that you might be slow to recognize when you need to reach out for help, instead falling back on the false belief that everything is up to you. When the number of clients you are seeing reaches a peak, you need to start delegating some tasks. You may want to start with some of the everyday activities you do, such as cleaning the towels or answering the phone. You could hire someone to perform some of these tasks, or you may outsource the work. Perhaps you send the towels out or direct calls to a professional service instead of having clients leave messages on voice mail.
You might also consider hiring a bookkeeper to balance the books. Having an employee or outside service take care of some of the business basics may free up enough time for you to see a few extra clients as the business grows. You should be prepared, however, for the possibility that as you continue to expand you might need another massage therapist on staff to help handle the additional work load.
Hiring another massage therapist might seem like a big step, especially if you are used to working alone. The time you’ll gain, though, can be used to do work that is imperative to your success, such as developing or refreshing your marketing program.
Delegation can certainly empower the massage therapist with time and focus for better decision making and continued enthusiasm. Remember, reducing your stress to a workable level promotes a longer, healthier massage career.
By the Numbers
Giving massage, even with all the correct and ergonomic procedures, is physically demanding. When in the start-up phase of my own massage business, I had 40 clients respond to one editorial, and they all wanted massage the same week.
For someone taking her first enthusiastic plunge into the massage profession, the great response was a dream come true. At the same time, this sudden level of increased clientele could have become overwhelming if I hadn’t watched and managed my energy levels closely.
Leaving 15 to 30 minutes between bookings can give you enough breathing space and a good even pace so you can maintain increasing client numbers. Building up gradually to a larger client intake maximizes your ability to sustain your business.
You should also set limits on the number of clients you see per day. Having a working knowledge of your clients and their preferences will give you a good idea of how your week might look. You may know some days and times are more popular than others, which will go a long way in planning so you can keep your energy levels up.
Limitations can also be set around these times so that client preferences are not overly compromised. A question to continually ask yourself: “How many people can I massage per week without feeling too tired?”
Once you have a good idea of how many clients you are comfortable seeing each week, go one step further and try to determine how many years you think you might be able to maintain this pace.
To stay in balance, set limits for yourself and your massage practice, but keep a narrow margin of flexibility for when changes need to be made. Having an idea of how much you can handle before fatigue starts to set in will help you remain active in your practice and better recognize when you might need to back off and take a rest. If these boundaries are not firmly set in place, then stress can increase because of too much demand on personal time. The objective for these strategies is to maintain your passion for massage.
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American Massage Therapy Association®
