Leadership Game Plan with Brigette Sobus, Bonnie Bonadeo and Nikki Le- Leaning into Emotional Wellness in the Salon Workplace and A Leadership Plan that helps to Evolve you into a Company that Retains Talent


Why is a Corporate Mental Wellness Policy and Programs crucial to happier WorkPlaces?

Traditional salon leadership relied on control, discipline, and a separation of personal and professional lives. The past mindset of—“leave your personal problems at the door”—rarely serves today’s workforce. Instead, evolved leadership recognizes mental wellness as an asset, not a liability, and understands that a healthier workplace leads to greater retention, productivity, and long-term success.

In my segment on tomorrow's webinar, THE LEADERSHIP GAME PLAN, I'll be covering these focuses for business owners, managers and salon leaders:

1. A Mission-Driven Culture That Supports Personal & Career Success

• A strong salon culture is not just about business success—it must also account for personal well-being.

• Leadership should balance performance expectations with genuine support for employees’ mental and emotional health.

2. Employee Retention is Tied to Feeling Valued

Employees who feel undervalued will eventually disengage and leave.

• Acknowledging contributions and commitment is key to sustaining a motivated and loyal team.

3. Post-Pandemic Work Expectations Have Changed

• Employees now demand a more holistic approach to workplace culture and reasonable expectations.

• Leadership must adapt to new norms—including flexibility, mental health support, and fair work-life balance policies.

4. Employees Prioritize Mental Wellness Over Overworking

• Today’s workforce is more willing to protect their mental health than sacrifice it for high performance.

• Salons that prioritize healthy work environments will attract and retain top talent.

5. Bridging the Generational Gap in Leadership Styles

• Many current salon leaders grew up in a different work culture that emphasized hierarchy, discipline, and endurance.

• Today’s employees expect psychological safety, collaboration, and purpose-driven leadership.

• Leaders must unlearn outdated approaches and actively develop healthier, more inclusive leadership methods.

6. Authentic Connection Requires Psychological Safety

• Employees perform best when they feel safe, valued, and understood.

• Evolved leaders prioritize listening, empathy, and individualized support.

7. Mastering Conflict Resolution is a Non-Negotiable Skill

• Poor conflict resolution leads to miscommunication, disengagement, and turnover.

• Leaders must address root causes of issues rather than glazing over problems with core values statements that don’t reflect reality.

8. Reactive Leadership and Burnout Create Toxic Work Environments

• Leading from exhaustion, frustration, or avoidance leads to poor decision-making and disengagement.

• Evolved leadership requires active participation, self-awareness, and strategic rest to avoid burnout.

9. A Well-Defined Mental Wellness Policy is Essential

• A formal corporate mental wellness policy creates a structured, supportive environment.

• It should include clear procedures, programs, and initiatives that reinforce the salon’s commitment to employee well-being.

Evolved leadership is not about being “softer” or lowering standards—it’s about creating a workplace that fuels long-term success through well-being, trust, and sustainable growth. Leaders who embrace this shift will see stronger teams, higher retention, and a thriving salon culture.


Lead Well Friends, Nikki Le

Plus, we'll cover these topics in our webinar
February 17th at 12:00 est.

Career Collaboration vs. Career Control

Creating an Engaging and Mindful Workspace

Developing a Corporate Mental Wellness Policy

Inspiring your Team's Growth Potential

Enhancing Your Employee Experience

February 17th at 12:00 est.

Sign up for our webinar now!

Count down to 2025-02-17T17:00:00.000Z

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, YOU are a leader.

— John Quincy Adams

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Hi! My name is Nikki Le

I’m the principal at Nikki Le Consultancy, a company designed to serve meaningful success for beauty entrepreneurs. My passion is to serve as an employer advocate and business strategist focusing on… - Leadership coaching for owners and their teams - Business systemization and salon owner support - Compensation coaching - Service pricing and creating career wealth - Recruitment marketing and new employee onboarding/training - Transformative career coaching for beauty pros Our mission is to serve the professional in every capacity. This is I've we’ve built out a vast library of resources on topics that fulfill on every level of your learning experience. I'd love it if you would join our community of salon scholars elevating the beauty industry!

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