This article is an excerpt from the book "It's Your Turn! The Success Blueprint For The Dance Studio Owner

"The Customer Comes Second: Put Your People First and Watch 'em Kick Butt!" -H al Rosenbluth

Dealing with staff can either be the bane of one's existence or the joy of one's life. For most people, the pendulum falls somewhere in the middle of those two extremes. Many studio owners often forget that without staff, there would indeed be no studio. It's important to treat staff members as well as possible because in many respects, they are your professional family. In most instances, studio owners end up spending more time during any given week with their staff than they do with their families. Many studio owners just starting in the business don't realize that their studio will quickly become more of a home than their actual family residence. No need to move in just yet!

Staff members are not only your professional family, they also happen to be your lifeline. Businesses succeed or fail mostly due to the enthusiasm, efficiency and professionalism of their staff. Always remember to treat employees as such.

The fine art of dealing with staff is a huge and fascinating science. In fact, we could do an entire book just on this multifaceted topic alone. To help answer many of the questions that come up concerning this issue, I'll present in the following pages some of the questions I get asked most frequently.

How do I hire staff that will perform and stay with me?

Great question! I always tell business owners to be perfectly honest with themselves during all phases of the hiring process. First of all, don't hire someone because they are a friend of the family or happen to be the best friend of a good customer of yours. By the same token, don't hire a relative to be part of your operation because in many respects, that's just asking for trouble. Other employees might get the wrong idea when family is on the job. As many business owners can attest to, that type of hire can often end up backfiring on you down the road. You need to try to keep things as professional and balanced as possible. Look at people's resumes, but even more important, watch and listen carefully when you bring them in for an interview. Have they dressed appropriately for the position? As they are talking, ask yourself if this is the type of person that your studio's clientele would get a charge off of. Is this honestly a good fit? Experience on paper is important, but how you truly feel about applicants sitting right in front of you and what vibes they happen to be giving off should vie for first place during the hiring process. Ask questions as if they were already on the job. How would they handle certain situations, as described by you? What are their long-term goals and aspirations? Where do they see themselves in five years? What are three things totally unique to them that they would bring to the table if they were hired?

What's on a resume can often be deceiving. Someone whose resume lists years of experience in the industry and dealing with the public, may present himself as anything but when you meet him in person. There is no way you'd put this person in front of your customers! By the same token, an industry novice, whose resume shows few dealings with the public, might pique your interest and you won't even know exactly why. There's something about how that person's face seems to glow and light up when he or she smiles. Something deep within you just senses something special about this person's personality, and you just know you must have this candidate on your staff. These are all important things to keep in mind when it comes time to hire.

I have often hired people over the phone, never having met the candidate, and knew after the first few minutes of the call that the person was either a perfect fit or not for the position. You know in your heart of hearts if a person is right for a job. It's important to be in touch with that part of yourself during all stages of the hiring process.

Be sure to involve other staff members when a candidate comes in for an interview. Ask those employees what they thought of this person and whether that person would indeed be a good fit. The more you involve your staff members in the everyday operation of your studio, the more they feel an honored part of the team. Teamwork and moving forward as a team is huge when it comes to the successful business practices.

How do I motivate my staff?

Your staff members should be there to take direction from you. You are their leader. They report to you and expect leadership from you in return. Part of being an effective leader is motivating your workers, helping to keep them on track and produce up to your respective expectations-and then some.

Here are some key points to remember when it comes to inspiring your staff members:

1) Show them you care each and every day

Be there for them, but don't micromanage. That's a fine line, but you can do it. You'll know when you stick your nose too much into their faces. Be professional and compassionate. Listen to what your workers say. If they mention things that truly need to change, implement the suggestions they give you. Don't make hollow promises that never see the light of day. Make good on your word and turn words into action. Anything that makes their jobs easier, within reason, is worth investigating. As your employees see the changes coming from their suggestions, morale improves-which also means employee retention improves. It costs far less to keep current workers happy than to constantly hire new ones.

2) Got Fun?

Make their work environment fun. Put energy and fun into everything you do with your crew. Staff meetings should be often and enjoyable. Holiday and operational themes can be fun.

Don't forget to smile! That one little thing is so very important. Your employees take all kinds of silent cues from you, and if you are walking around all day with a smirk on your face, it will immediately translate to them. They wear what you are wearing so make sure you are always the model for fun and positivity. This makes a huge difference in how each day unfolds.

Challenge your crew with fun goals or games. Theme the quarters of the year with a fun topic and involve them. There are a million ideas that are creative and enjoyable. Think of some engaging and unique projects to motivate and energize them. They'll appreciate more than you know the fact that you care.

To get your copy of the book please visit http://www.raisethebarreconsulting.com/