Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/230373
Set Yourself Up for Success Cancellation and noshow fees are other ways massage therapists reinforce the monetary value of time. It may feel uncomfortable to charge a client for a missed session, since he didn't receive any treatment. But that's part of being in business. "Time is valuable," Starling says. "When an agreement has been made in the booking process, that's the time you're billing for." Remember: You are not punishing clients by enforcing policy. You are ensuring your business can continue to operate so you'll be there next time they book a session. Setting limits is tough. These tips make it easier to stick to your decisions. Know Your Reasons Get clear about your most important values and set boundaries consistent with your beliefs. "If you're not clear about why a boundary is in place, you're going to break it," says business coach Diane L. MacDonald. When you're tempted to relax a boundary, remind yourself why you set it. Your values probably haven't changed. Write Things Down A specific business plan helps you see where you want to go and how you expect to get there. Include detailed policies on sticky issues, including cancellations, expenditures, no-shows, and work hours. Putting pen to paper forces you to acknowledge the lines you are drawing. It also reinforces your commitment to upholding boundaries. Physical Energy Bodywork is physically demanding, and it's important to set limits on how much pressure you can provide. "Sometimes people want too much pressure because they think it means they are getting their money's worth, or because they take a 'no pain, no gain' approach," Walton says. Handle these requests by educating clients about their options and offering referrals if necessary. "Ninety percent of people will be very receptive to this," Walton says. "And they appreciate me because I took the time to explain the reason why too much pressure would be detrimental." Tune in to your body and assess your energy level throughout the day. You may find you can only book one deep-tissue session per day or that you get too tired if you work after 8:00 p.m. Respect your physical limits so you don't get injured. Also, Ask Clients to Sign On Obtain client signatures on office policy documents at the time of first booking and once a year after that. This minimizes the chance a client will ask you to make exceptions. Online scheduling software tools—including Full Slate, which is available to ABMP members at a discount—can use a checkbox system to ensure clients have read and agree to booking policies. "If a client fails to show up, I use PayPal to invoice them," says massage therapist Lily Starling. Even if they never pay up, you'll get a boost from sticking to your standards. Learn from Experience Reflect on times you said "no." Clients' reactions probably weren't as bad as you feared. Reflect also on times you said "yes" when you wanted to say "no." You may regret these yesses and grow to resent clients who push back or try to manipulate you. Going forward, recommit yourself to setting and keeping healthy boundaries. The sense of professionalism you'll feel when you assert your values will make you happy to be in business. It pays to be ABMP Certified: www.abmp.com/go/certifiedcentral 77