Business relationships vs friend relationships

There is a strong difference between business relationships and friend relationships. One of the most critical and top concerns for the spa industry is that people tend to develop close relationships with their clients. The question that then follows this type of behavior is, “Where do you draw the line?

Providing services such as facials and massage is a very intimate and a close environment where two people may share an experience together. The treatment usually creates an environment whereby the client feels comfortable in sharing their personal business. The key is to allow the client to share ideas but guide them into a relaxed state of mind as soon as possible. This may be done by placing eye pads on the client’s eyes or maybe even guiding them through a deep breathing exercise with the use of essential oils. This will immediately help your client calm down.

I have seen people cross the line when they become so involved in the client’s life that they even begin to discuss their own personal matters. When the therapist begins to share personal issues, I believe that the client is no longer a business relationship but has crossed over into a friend relationship.

What I have found from my personal experience is when this line is crossed, the friend does what friends do…they want free services. Many people may feel comfortable crossing this boundary, however, it can lead to problems in which the massage therapist or aesthetician is really taken advantage of. We want to make friends and retain clients, but we also need to make money. My suggestion is to make sure you have appropriate boundaries to ensure the success of your business.

“Everyday is a SuperNatural Day”

Debbie Hellmann