It’s more than a year since the pandemic unexpectedly hit us. And since then, each day has become a new learning experience. The world has shifted to a constant state of change, and the same has applied to our way of approaching work. Organisations have been forced to adapt quickly in order to remain competitive, with beauty practitioners and professionals facing new challenges.
In the context of this pandemic, Paul Gray’s definition of front-line worker includes any professional who directly interacts with customers, clients, or the general public. These workers would be at the end of a given production chain, like grocery retail workers, or could be service providers, like spa workers.
In all sectors, frontline workers have been the ones to truly feel the full force of the crisis, with new safety guidelines, compliance in job processes, and a new approach to business development. Still, some employees across various sectors are having a hard time keeping up, especially those employees who don’t have a desk or a work email.
Even in this scenario, managers still expect their workers to perform their jobs productively and safely. Regardless of the location or job function, from manufacturing to retail, meaningful communication, support and training of frontline employee is lacking in the beauty vertical.
Beauty companies need to prioritise communications with frontline workers as one of the key elements to getting through the health and economic discourse as we know it.
Traditional training doesn’t work for beauty practitioners
Long classroom sessions and desktop computer modules do not longer fit into the day of a beauty practitioners/professionals due to the following reasons:
- They are often deskless
- Time allocated for training is usually limited
- It is not efficient to pull them away from the frontline
- They are dispersed across multiple geographical locations
Small doses of communications and trainings that fit into employees unique daily workflow is needed
An equipped frontline worker is a good frontline worker. When equipped with the right technology and tools, a good frontline worker becomes a great employee. Also, equipping frontline workers to perform the right task with confidence is critical. As each task contributes to the overall success of the business, bad practices decreases quality and increases negative employee experience.
Frontline workers shouldn’t have to spend extra time and effort to find information or coaching tips. Relevant communications should be readily available and easy to access. More importantly, through a device that goes with frontline working schedules.
The right technology to deliver meaningful communications and coaching
Recent study revealed that 82% of workers under the age of 34 focus on technology as a critical factor to accepting a job. Also, according to a research report on the state of workforce by TRUCE, the 62% surveyed said they agree mobile phones or tablets play a key role in helping them be productive at work. 56% of those polled said they believed it is their right to use their personal smartphones during work.
This is a very meaningful information as it shows that frontline workers are really looking for easy tools to help them perform their jobs effectively.
When employees are not comfortable downloading a “work app” onto their personal device, a website/app that’s easy to access on a personal smartphone could be the solution. Especially now that shared devices carries extra health and safety concerns.
What should current training look like…
- Short and interactive trainings on a weekly basis
- Practical reinforcement of information to ensure it sticks
- Available across mobile, tablets and desktops
- User friendly interface
- Help centre setting and topic related content.
Blogger’s conclusions
Whilst the pandemic present opportunities for beauty frontline workers to move from the traditional approach to a modern way of customer satisfaction, employee fulfilment and company realisation, only engaged and well equipped beauty workers are in a better position to adapt and become great employees. They will become the key to making this year a successful one for their firms as they increasingly supported with meaningful ways of communication and trainings.