Soul Proprietor - Safety First

Worst case scenarios that you may not even think about when you first open the doors:

A strange man comes into your massage studio and starts asking inappropriate questions.

A yoga student claims she was hurt in your class and now wants to sue your Lululemon pants off.

A woman shows up at the door, unannounced, and demands an appointment. When you try to turn her away, she gets belligerent.

An online troll starts stalking your website and writes a vicious hate blog about you.

These scary scenarios can and do happen every day, even for those of us who work in spiritual businesses. You may think you’re safe because you’re doing work that helps people (who would attack a yoga teacher?), but think again. There are plenty of ne’er do wells with not-very-healthy motives floating around out there. Sooner or later, one may find their way to your biz (let’s hope it’s never).

It’s important for you to create a safe container, both online and off, so that you can remain blissfully employed in your soulful career.

That means having policies and strategies that protect you should things ever go awry:

If you see clients in your home, have a “valid referrals only” policy for new clients. A solid referral will allow you to screen them if you feel uncomfortable. A valid referral consists of first and last names from a client that you have worked with before. You may also want to consider taking appointments only during hours when a roommate or family member are home. This will give you an extra layer of protection.
Get insurance to protect yourself from frivolous lawsuits. Some industries such as massage and yoga have their own policies but you may also want to consider additional home insurance (if you have a home office) as well as a BOP (Business Owner’s Policy).
Have a clearly written policy in place for what will happen if a client crosses a line. For some businesses, it’s a good idea to have a waiver for the client to sign which clearly states these policies.
If you have a studio or salon, make sure that there is someone else present such as a receptionist or other service provider. Another body may make a creep think twice about doing something stupid.
If someone begins acting inappropriate or abusive during an appointment, stop the session immediately and ask them to leave.
Stay away from haters and hate blogs. The last thing you want to do is engage with an online bully because you never know how crazy these people may be. Plus, you don’t need that energy. It will take your focus away from what is really important: serving your client.
If you ever feel uncomfortable with a client for any reason whatsoever, it’s perfectly fine to terminate the relationship. ALWAYS trust your gut.

Never put your safety on the line, ever. A little precaution may save you from some mighty big problems down the road.

“Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands.” ~ Jeff Cooper

Blessings!

Theresa

What safety measured do you take with your business? How to you screen for potential trouble? I’d love to hear your thoughts.