Now that I've been in business a few years, it feels time to do some re-evaluating to see what else needs some modification. I have compiled this questionnaire, put myself in the hot-seat and answered by rating 1-10, with the option of including additional comments. I would very much appreciate any and all responses to this. Fire up your (brain) engines--now's your chance to tell me how you REALLY feel! :) Let me know if I'm selling myself short on the ratings, or giving myself too much credit.
I. Massage--This area is the most difficult for me to give a self-evaluation for, since I'm not able to experience my own work, thus, this area is especially important for you to offer feedback.
Pressure: 9.
Rhythm/Flow: 9.
Intro/Closure: 9.
Time Utilization: 8.
Draping: 9.
Overall: 44/50.
Strengths: Adapting to clients' various needs--from relaxing to deep, therapeutic techniques.
Weaknesses: Beginning sessions with cold hands, not balancing time throughout the session as well as I'd like.
II. Spa Treatments: Bodywraps, Skin Polish, Hand/Foot Polish, Add-On Body Butters, Retail
Informing Clients of Available Offerings: 5.
Quality of Products Used: 9.
Efficacy of Spa Treatments: 8.
Overall: 22/30.
Strengths: Making retail products visible.
Weaknesses: Not naturally suggesting products/services that clients might benefit from.
III. Atmosphere
Location: 9.
Ease of Finding: 8.
Room Temperature: 8.
Cleanliness: 9.
Music: 8.
Exterior Sounds: 8.
Overall: 49/60.
Strengths: Same location for 4 years; no hair or nail salon smells; nice, calming/comforting decor; recently cleaned carpets and converted all CDs to ipod use instead.
Weaknesses: I forget to explain thoroughly to new clients that I'm at the back, downstairs, or where they should park; upstairs noise is mostly unavoidable--past hunts for the "perfect" massage room haven't been fruitful.
IV. Scheduling
Online Scheduling Ease of Operation: 9--Please let me know if you ever run into issues with Clickbook.
By Phone: 9.
By Text: 9.
By Email: 9.
Date/Time Availability (M-F 5:15 & 7:00pm, M-W-F 9-10:30am, occasional weekends): 9.
Proactivity: Rescheduling at end of sessions: 10.
Follow-Up When A Client Does NOT Reschedule After Their Session: 7.
Overall: 62/70.
Strengths: Scheduling at the end of sessions is best--ensures clients get back in when they need it and can accommodate schedules best when booking ahead. Until recently, I had a poor-working system for following up with clients who haven't been in for a while or that didn't reschedule at the end of their session, but I feel I have found a better way to keep up with those needs now.
Weaknesses: I am not always able to catch my phone when clients call, and don't do a lot of texting, so I forget to follow up later if I'm not able to respond immediately upon receiving a text or voicemail from a client. This is an area for me to focus on improving.
V. Time Management
Arrive To Work On Time: 7. This is an area that I know I need to improve on, and am testing different ways to make that change (taking ownership of my time, versus blaming it on my inherited genes ;).)
Beginning Sessions Promptly: 8.
Ending Sessions At Their Full Length: 10.
Balancing Time Throughout The Session: 9.
Dependability: 10.
Dependability: 10.
Overall: 44/50.
Strengths: A part of what makes me stand out from other massage therapists is that I intentionally spend a few minutes with clients to find out what their needs are prior to each session. Our bodies have different needs from day-to-day, and even my most long-term clients still don't have a "typical" massage.
Weaknesses: Arriving to the office early to be set up and prepared the second clients walk in. As a family of 4 juggling 1 vehicle and trading off work and parental duties, this isn't always easy, but I also know I can make better efforts to achieve this goal.
Weaknesses: Arriving to the office early to be set up and prepared the second clients walk in. As a family of 4 juggling 1 vehicle and trading off work and parental duties, this isn't always easy, but I also know I can make better efforts to achieve this goal.
VI. Communication
Before Sessions: 10.
During Sessions: 9.
After Sessions: 9.
Between Session/Post-Session Rescheduling Follow Up: 7.
Continuous Contact: 9.
Overall: 44/50.
Strengths: I do believe I stand apart from other massage therapists in the level of time and attention I give clients to have a clear understanding of what outcome we're trying to reach at each session. I wonder sometimes if I talk with certain clients too much, but I try to let clients be the guide for the level of talking they're comfortable with. Some clients just naturally seem more at ease and relaxed when they ARE talking than if they're not, while other clients appreciate the quiet during their sessions. Please tell me if I have wrongly assumed which of these works for you.
Weaknesses: I have been working on different methods to see what works best for me to keep up with clients and following up with them as we've discussed for me to do if they haven't rescheduled at the end of their appointment, and I know what I've tried in the past hasn't been as effective as I'd have hoped, but I do think I have a better method in place now.
During Sessions: 9.
After Sessions: 9.
Between Session/Post-Session Rescheduling Follow Up: 7.
Continuous Contact: 9.
Overall: 44/50.
Strengths: I do believe I stand apart from other massage therapists in the level of time and attention I give clients to have a clear understanding of what outcome we're trying to reach at each session. I wonder sometimes if I talk with certain clients too much, but I try to let clients be the guide for the level of talking they're comfortable with. Some clients just naturally seem more at ease and relaxed when they ARE talking than if they're not, while other clients appreciate the quiet during their sessions. Please tell me if I have wrongly assumed which of these works for you.
Weaknesses: I have been working on different methods to see what works best for me to keep up with clients and following up with them as we've discussed for me to do if they haven't rescheduled at the end of their appointment, and I know what I've tried in the past hasn't been as effective as I'd have hoped, but I do think I have a better method in place now.
VII. Professional Presentation
Appearance: 9.
Politeness: 9.
Problem Resolution: 9.
Fingernails Maintained: 9.
Overall: 36/40.
Strengths: I try to always look nice when I come to work and am anticipating purchasing new logo-embroidered shirts soon.
Weaknesses: Sometimes I don't dress as nicely as I should, ie wearing jeans, and don't always have my nails filed before I arrive for my first client of the week. I go back and forth with myself as to how strongly I should enforce my reschedule policy. I want to be clear that my time has value and not allow clients to take advantage of that, but am not completely clear as to when/how hard I should put my foot down, and conversely, when to let things go and/or make more of a compromise for short-notice rescheduling. Input welcome!
Appearance: 9.
Politeness: 9.
Problem Resolution: 9.
Fingernails Maintained: 9.
Overall: 36/40.
Strengths: I try to always look nice when I come to work and am anticipating purchasing new logo-embroidered shirts soon.
Weaknesses: Sometimes I don't dress as nicely as I should, ie wearing jeans, and don't always have my nails filed before I arrive for my first client of the week. I go back and forth with myself as to how strongly I should enforce my reschedule policy. I want to be clear that my time has value and not allow clients to take advantage of that, but am not completely clear as to when/how hard I should put my foot down, and conversely, when to let things go and/or make more of a compromise for short-notice rescheduling. Input welcome!
VIII. Quality, Knowledgeable, Intuition, Value
Knowledge and Understanding of Clients' Areas of Focus: 9.
Non-Verbalized Sense of Stagnant Energy/Energetic Blocks: 10.
Ability to Create and Communicate Treatment Plan Individually Suited to Each Client: 9.
Ability to Meet Clients' Goals: 9.
Knowledge and Understanding of Clients' Areas of Focus: 9.
Non-Verbalized Sense of Stagnant Energy/Energetic Blocks: 10.
Ability to Create and Communicate Treatment Plan Individually Suited to Each Client: 9.
Ability to Meet Clients' Goals: 9.
On-Going Follow-Up to Assure Client Satisfaction: 9.
Services Provided Meet/Exceed Cost: 9.
Overall: 55/60.
Strengths: I feel I've gained a lot of experience in my 6 years as a licensed massage therapist that has added to my skill levels in treating clients, beyond relaxation-based massage. In the past 6 years, I've come to recognize more and more deeply that EVERYTHING in our bodies and lives are intertwined, am in awe of this, and love to share what I've learned with my clients along the way.
Weaknesses: I admit openly with clients new and old that treating the lower back is not my forte, but as clients keep presenting issues here, I am enjoying the opportunities to try different ways of treating the lower back and soon enough won't have to throw out that word of caution anymore. I truly love to work with the upper back, shoulders, and neck, and wonder sometimes if I spend more time than clients would like there just because of that.
Services Provided Meet/Exceed Cost: 9.
Overall: 55/60.
Strengths: I feel I've gained a lot of experience in my 6 years as a licensed massage therapist that has added to my skill levels in treating clients, beyond relaxation-based massage. In the past 6 years, I've come to recognize more and more deeply that EVERYTHING in our bodies and lives are intertwined, am in awe of this, and love to share what I've learned with my clients along the way.
Weaknesses: I admit openly with clients new and old that treating the lower back is not my forte, but as clients keep presenting issues here, I am enjoying the opportunities to try different ways of treating the lower back and soon enough won't have to throw out that word of caution anymore. I truly love to work with the upper back, shoulders, and neck, and wonder sometimes if I spend more time than clients would like there just because of that.
All in all: 356/420--85%. Room for improvement, but in terms of dealing with human bodies, I don't expect I'll ever "know it ALL," just so long as I continue to improve in my personal relations with clients and in my hands-on skills. :)
Beginning January 1, 2013, I will be raising my rates $5 across the board, as well as distinguishing between relaxation and therapeutic massage, which will be an additional $5-10. Read more about that here.
No comments:
Post a Comment