Running a salon means you’re constantly juggling a thousand decisions. Which tasks deserve your time and energy, and which ones should you pass along?
As a business owner myself, I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that prioritizing effectively can make or break your business.
Today, I want to share three practical tools that completely shifted how I manage decisions and can help you whether you’re struggling with daily operations or planning that second location you’ve been dreaming about.
Play the short…
… and watch the full episode 69 of Marketing 100 with salon business experts John and Kayle as they share three powerful decision-making frameworks that transformed their approach to salon management.
Continue reading below for our complete guide to three practical decision-making tools, including examples and instructions for using each framework in your business.
Decision Tool #1: Two-Way Door Thinking for Salon Management
Ever hesitate to make a decision because you’re scared you can’t go back? I totally get it.
But here’s a simple framework I stole from Jeff Bezos (love him or hate him, this one’s gold).
Think of decisions as either one-way or two-way doors:
Two-way decisions are reversible. For example, painting your back bar wall gray instead of green. Hate it? Paint it back. Easy.
In reality, most salon decisions are two-way doors. Recognizing that freed me from paralysis. Go ahead try it. Move quickly, experiment, and adjust as you go.
Other salon examples: trying a new booking system with a free trial, testing a new retail display layout, or experimenting with extended hours for a month.
But one-way doors? Those decisions are harder, more expensive, or impossible to reverse easily—like opening a new location or hiring key team members.
Think major renovations, investing in expensive equipment, or committing to a new salon software with a year-long contract. You’re locked in, at least for a while, so think carefully.
Quick win: Take your current “decision paralysis” list and label each item as a one-way or two-way door. Move quickly on all two-way doors this week!
“Figuring out what you can change and what you can’t is crucial for growth.”
Even Jeff Bezos put it like this: “Many decisions are reversible, two-way doors. Those decisions can use a light-weight process” (Amazon Shareholder Letter, 2016).
Decision Tool #2: The Salon Productivity Matrix
Enter the Eisenhower Matrix:
Neither Urgent nor Important: Social media scrolling, random distractions, industry gossip, overthinking minor decisions. Eliminate these.
Important & Urgent: Client complaints, immediate crises, broken equipment, last-minute cancellations. Handle them now.
Important but Not Urgent: Team training, branding, loyalty program development, social media strategy, researching new salon technologies, operational improvements. Invest time here.
Urgent but Not Important: Most interruptions, unnecessary calls, certain emails, some walk-in questions that your staff could handle. Delegate or minimize these.
Here’s the trick: Spend more time in Quadrant 2 (important but not urgent).
Invest time into improving your team’s structure and clearly defining your brand, things that might not scream for attention but make a massive difference in long-term success.
Effective salon client retention strategies belong in this quadrant and deliver substantial long-term value.
Action step: Create a physical or digital Eisenhower Matrix. For one week, categorize every task that comes your way.
At week’s end, calculate what percentage of your time went to each quadrant. Aim to increase your Quadrant 2 time by 20% next month.
↓ Pin it for Later ↓
Decision Tool #3: The Salon Owner’s Circle of Control System
How much time do you waste worrying about stuff you can’t control?
Stephen Covey’s circles concept changed that:
- Circle of Control: Direct decisions you make daily—your service menu, pricing strategy, team training, client experience, your marketing calendar. Own these.
- Circle of Influence: Decisions others make that you can impact—landlord policies, supplier relationships, local business association initiatives, client behaviors through relationships and conversations.
- Circle of Concern: Things outside your control, like political shifts affecting beauty industry regulations, economic downturns, unexpected construction near your salon, or property management choices.
Instead of complaining about your landlord’s choices, why not build relationships with decision-makers?
Invite key individuals to lunch to understand their perspectives and gently influence their decisions. Expand your influence through genuine connections.
This relationship-building approach is also central to building strong salon culture with your internal team.
Building these relationships helps you move issues from your circle of concern into your circle of influence, giving you more control over outcomes that affect your business.
“If I’m worried but can’t impact it, it’s not worth my energy.” – John
Implementing These Salon Business Decision Tools Today
Prioritize tasks smartly. Recognize reversible decisions. Expand your influence instead of worrying about things you can’t control.
Use these tools consistently, and you’ll spend your time exactly where it matters most—growing your salon.
Once you’ve mastered these decision frameworks, you’ll be better positioned to scale your salon business effectively.
Here’s your three-step action plan for this week:
- Identify your three biggest pending decisions and label them as one-way or two-way doors
- Block 3 hours on your calendar specifically for “Quadrant 2” activities (important but not urgent)
- List three concerns currently stressing you out and determine which circle they belong in—then take action only on those within your control or influence
Oh, and speaking of smart moves—if you’re not already using Mangomint software, it’s time to check it out. It’s one of those two-way door decisions you’ll be thrilled you walked through.
P.S. For even more proven salon marketing tips, don’t forget to check out the rest of our Marketing 100 series.
