The aHead Retreat

Can stepping out of your comfort zone truly transform your team and business? Join us on an inspiring journey through the Conscious Salon Team Retreat in Main Ridge, Victoria, where we embraced growth, connection, and the power of immersive experiences. We dived headfirst into a series of activities designed to push boundaries and foster deep bonds among team members. Han shares her reflections on the importance of continuous engagement in such supportive environments, and how this retreat has left a lasting, positive impact on everyone involved.

Feel the energy and excitement as we recount moments of overcoming fears and embracing new experiences. Han opens up about her transition from anxiety and control to a mindset of surrender and openness, while Amelia takes us through her empowering first ice bath experience, set to the tune of "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey. Relive the magic of the winter solstice celebration, the joy of dancing, and the camaraderie built through shared challenges. Natasha’s story of conquering her hesitations during the ice bath session underscores the transformative power of trust and supportive atmospheres. 

Get practical insights on setting life values, breaking unhealthy cycles, and the importance of goal setting as shared by Jazzy. Discover how simple team bonding activities can build trust and significantly enhance team cohesion and productivity. We wrap up with thoughtful reflections on the profound impact of prioritizing team development, highlighted by heartfelt expressions of gratitude from a recent mental health retreat. This episode is a treasure trove of experiences and advice for anyone eager to foster personal and professional growth within their teams.

To follow our journey:
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@the_conscious_salon

This podcast has been produced and edited by Snappystreet Creative

Transcript

Speaker 1: 1:02

Here at the Conscious Salon, we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land in which we stand today, the Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to the elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Speaker 2: 1:19

Welcome to the Conscious Salon.

Speaker 3: 1:25

Welcome back to another episode of the Conscious. Who are you mystery host?

Speaker 1: 1:30

uh, it's hannah unfortunately, unfortunately very good I'm not allowed to do that, so well done, thank you.

Speaker 2: 1:38

What a privilege we're back with another episode of the conscious salon podcast. And where are we?

Speaker 1: 1:43

han main, main ridge what are we doing in main ridge?

Speaker 2: 1:48

the ahead retreat right we're at the ahead retreat, so this is our first ever team retreat that we have hosted this year. We've just spent the last couple of days down in a beautiful property in main ridge in victoria, down in the mornington peninsula, and we want to jump on the mics, fire up the mics and share a little bit with our conscious community about what we want to jump on the mics, fire up the mics and share a little bit with our conscious community about what we've been doing for the past few days. So it hopefully inspires you guys to do your own retreat or your own self-development days or team bonding days, because I think a lot of the time people are really scared to make this leap, like they might be scared from a business owner's point of view. They might be scared to um, you know, step into something that they feel that they don't know how to do it or how to facilitate. They might be concerned about crossing a boundary with their team and and stepping into more of a personal zone and from a team's perspective, if they were offered an opportunity like this, it can be really hard to lean in and trust this when you're in a professional environment.

Speaker 2: 2:49

So we're wanting to tear those walls down today and share a little bit about what we've done in the past few days, maybe give you guys a couple of ideas of what you can do, and also just to break the barrier of feeling uncomfortable doing these things and maybe feeling scared to take that next step with your team and run self-development things. So, guys, the last few days, let's debrief and go over it. Han, I'd love to hear how you felt with the idea, because obviously this is your first Ahead retreat how you felt with the idea when we came up with the concept and what you were most looking forward to or even anxious about leading up to it.

Speaker 3: 3:30

I was actually very excited. I mean, the ahead days are always jam-packed with like really beneficial stuff, so having like a little getaway was also really nice, because we could all keep in that moment of like we're here doing the work and not like, okay, cool, we're done for the day, close like the door, sort of thing.

Speaker 1: 3:46

It's like it's really nice and encompass and like spend time together as well and really hold space for everyone it's more of a um experience, I think, when we have the overnight things like we, we do love, we do love an overnight event at a head, um, especially our christmas, but we mainly keep it to our christmas parties. I'm trying to think is there any other time? No, we always have christmas parties.

Speaker 2: 4:04

That means no and then when we've gone to like um conferences and stuff, interstate. But there is something different about when you go on a retreat and sitting like the the immersion yeah for sure, for sure. So was there any fears or worries that came up for you, hun?

Speaker 3: 4:21

uh no, I just try and come into these like days with a very open mind, so I don't think I really get like hesitant or anxious anymore. I'm kind of like you know it's not going to be bad or anything like that. It's because you know you're going to be like held with, like love and everything like that, whereas I feel like for some people it might be daunting and say it was like their first time like coming to those situations, because they're not, I guess, used to or had the exposure to those sort of things and might not feel like comfortable yet to like can you remember your first?

Speaker 3: 4:48

one was that we've noticed that, yes, um you did a reel on it and you made coffee in the first portion of the reel. It was not like a money one, it was something else oh, I I know what it was.

Speaker 2: 5:02

It was a um was it money. No, she said it wasn't no money. What it was, it was a was it money. No, she said it wasn't.

Speaker 1: 5:08

No money was the second one. It was like we did.

Speaker 2: 5:09

It was like mostly theory based.

Speaker 3: 5:11

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 5:12

I don't remember at all. It was too long ago. It was like three and a half years ago. It was too long ago for me.

Speaker 3: 5:18

But coming into that, I was very like anxious. I'm like, well, I don't know what we're doing. Like I'm someone who likes to have control over a lot of things in my life, but now, whenever it's something work related, I'm kind of like relinquish that control. So if I step back three and a half years, I was very like anxious. I did not know what the hell was going to go on.

Speaker 1: 5:38

Yes, I think that's a really interesting thing to look back on as well, cause I think you you've done so much work and like with all of the things you know, not even just like your own personal journey with it, but sometimes when we look back to how it was you know then and how I, you can show up for things now and even like continually working, so I get I'm the same with control. I'm like I want to have the whole layout understanding, like be really clear on what we're doing and why. But I think that, um, you know step like really sitting in that word of surrender and just sort of seeing what comes up and having that open mind, it really is so powerful. Yeah, it's really great, really great.

Speaker 2: 6:14

I think that'll also be really helpful hand for both a um, a salon owner who's wanting to do something, to understand how it may feel, how intimidating it may feel for a team member coming into things and being really sensitive and conscious of that, but also, on the flip side, for a team member to really hear that the more open that you are to these things and the more that you surrender control and controlling a situation, the more open-minded that you can come into it, the more you're going to get out of it. And there's really something to that, because I know that a lot of you guys really struggle with the fact that we don't tell you what we're doing before these days and you don't actually know what the program is going to be. And I know that's a big struggle for you. But even you guys knew that we're doing ice baths this time and it really changed the dynamic of what we were doing because everyone was like, oh, I really don't want to do this, like people were gearing up before it beforehand.

Speaker 2: 7:07

Um, so you go in with like a preconceived idea of what you think is going to happen and then you know, for a lot of you guys it turned out really differently to what you thought it was going to do, which is one of the benefits of what we see, of why we don't actually share what we're doing on these days, but I know for you guys it feels really uncomfortable, um, not to know what you're going to be doing. Honey, can I get you to pass the mic to amelia? Yes, I can, mills. This is your second life ahead day with us yes, it is how did you find?

Speaker 2: 7:35

well, this is like the life ahead days, but how did you find the retreat and what did you feel coming into it?

Speaker 5: 7:44

um, I was mostly excited because obviously I trust you guys and I know whatever you plan is going to be magnificent. So, um, like Han said, I was just very open-minded. I just came into it. I was like, whatever happens, happens, I'm just going to enjoy the ride. Um, but, yes, the ice baths.

Speaker 1: 8:02

I was like, oh okay yes, we're doing this, you hadn't done an ice bath before?

Speaker 5: 8:08

no, so this was my first ice bath, um, but I was like you know, whatever just y'all are like, just gonna go in there see what happens.

Speaker 1: 8:17

Yeah, thank you. Can you please tell the people what your song choice was?

Speaker 5: 8:21

um, it was my favorite. Don't stop believing by journey by Journey.

Speaker 1: 8:25

Yeah, it was magnificent Also.

Speaker 2: 8:27

Amelia's 21. So I was like this is very unexpected.

Speaker 5: 8:31

I just it's a great song, I love it and it's very fitting.

Speaker 1: 8:34

All of us were dancing but like also trying not to take from Milsa's moment, but it was a real vibe there was jazz beside me dancing to Stay Alive. Yeah that's right.

Speaker 5: 8:47

The vibes were there. It was so good. It was actually great. I loved it. So, yeah, I will do it again.

Speaker 1: 8:51

Great.

Speaker 5: 8:51

So yeah, it was a beautiful experience, so thanks guys, you did such a beautiful job.

Speaker 1: 8:54

It was so beautiful watching you in there. It's pretty rare in the first one to see people smiling really quickly and you got in so calm, controlled and like, had such a grin on your face and he got a really beautiful photo of mills.

Speaker 1: 9:05

Yeah, I loved it. So thank you. It was oh how beautiful. Thank you, amelia. It was magical. We loved it. It really was like magical with the ice bath. I swear all morning it was like looking a bit doomy, gloomy. And the second the girls got in the ice the sun came out and it was really beautiful. And then when we got out and back I think it was like 10 minutes after that, we got back inside it started raining and was very cold and misty again. So the weather gods were really on the girl's side.

Speaker 2: 9:32

They always are, though, like we've never had to cancel anything because of weather, which is true, yeah, we always know that we can always manifest good weather bills. Can I get you to pass the mic down to tash? Natasha, this is your. You've still only been with us like just over a year, so still new to this. No, 18 months 18 months.

Speaker 4: 9:51

Yeah, I don't know, I'm not very good you're not good with anniversaries. No, not good with anniversaries. Neither am I, as we know, unfortunately some of our crew are really good.

Speaker 1: 10:02

Late to the second isn't it your anniversary today.

Speaker 5: 10:04

Jess, there we go. She told me last night.

Speaker 1: 10:06

I am so, so I'm the worst at anniversaries. I don't remember any, including like relationship ones. So happy four years. Three, three years, happy three years jazz feels like so much longer.

Speaker 2: 10:18

I know, um tash, there's been a really big theme around this weekend with the winter solstice and um the fact that. So for anyone who doesn't know the winter solstice, and the fact that so for anyone who doesn't know, the winter solstice is the shortest day of light that we have for the year. So basically it's the smallest amount of the window of light. I think we have nine hours and 20 minutes or something of light in Melbourne for this year on that day, whereas usually we can have like 10 to 12 to 13 hours of of like actual light in the sky. So it's our shortest day of the year and from now moving forward, all of our days get lighter. So I think that symbolism that is really beautiful and optimistic.

Speaker 2: 10:54

And we actually moved the date of our retreat. Was supposed to be next weekend, but we moved it a week forward so that we could do it on the winter solstice and really enjoy the energy there. What did you find was your biggest takeaway in terms of starting fresh, with a new life? What was your biggest takeaway to move forward?

Speaker 4: 11:12

um, I think always, like every, there's lots of takeaways every time we do a head day or well, obviously, our first retreat here, um, but I think, just connecting back to myself and relationships in my life, that was definitely the biggest takeaway I had from this weekend.

Speaker 2: 11:37

Beautiful, Beautiful. And how did you feel with the? Obviously we're going to give a little bit of a rundown of what we did. Actually, would you like to give a little rundown of what we did starting from yesterday?

Speaker 4: 11:49

I can't remember you know, I feel like everyone who knows me knows I'm not like. I talk a lot, but not actually, you know what?

Speaker 2: 12:03

if you're not in the details, let's talk about you. Really didn't want to do the ice baths.

Speaker 4: 12:08

Let's talk about that because I don't like being cold. No, no, and that was really the thing, like I was, just like I just it was so nice and warm in here and I just hate being cold.

Speaker 1: 12:18

That's my, that's, I feel like I'd almost gas lit tash as well, because I'd lit the fire.

Speaker 4: 12:22

It was like really warm and snug yeah, and I was in my nice cozy and I had my uggies on and they're like, oh, I'm warm, yeah, and up until the moment I put my babies on I was still not gonna do it. I was like, oh, it kind of, yeah, I think, like I we spoke about, like I don't regret doing it and I don't know if this is the right term but there is an element of peer pressure Totally. I'm in the bathroom. It's like come on, tash, you know it'll be good. I'm like, yeah, I know there's peer pressure.

Speaker 1: 12:59

without that it's not like bullying. No, you're not bullying. You don't have to if you don't want to.

Speaker 2: 13:07

The rest to yeah. But yeah, everyone's face is like you don't have to if you don't want to.

Speaker 4: 13:10

Like those of you who hop in, your lives will change. You will change those who don't.

Speaker 2: 13:12

Oh well, too bad so I think this is important to note as well. We, um, yesterday we gave the option to the girls. So we said anyone that doesn't want to get in the ice bath, you're not going to be forced into the ice bath. And because the girls knew a couple of them had said I don't want to do it, I don't want to do it, um, and I really think there is something to this. So we said if you don't want to do it, you don't have to do it. But obviously, in a situation like that, where majority are doing it and you start to get that feeling of am I going to regret not doing?

Speaker 2: 13:39

this I know that um Jazzy said that yesterday. You know I got in because I knew I would regret not doing it. So, tash, this is your second ice bath with us. The difference between your first and your second was phenomenal in terms of how you could regulate yourself and calm yourself down. And even though I shared with the girls yesterday, like I've done so many ice baths in my time and I actually did one yesterday and every single time I hop in, I I have to it is like mind over matter, it's a mental game Every time. It's never gotten easier, it's never gotten less overwhelming. I can regulate myself differently when I'm in there, but every time it is a mental game for me. So, knowing that and knowing that you did that, how do you feel on the other side of it?

Speaker 4: 14:23

Yeah, I feel good. I think the first time we did it I thought I knew I was what to expect. But you never know what to expect when you're jumping into a bath full of you know, into ice water. Um, and we did breath work before the last one, but we hadn't done it right right before, like as we were getting in. So, um, this time we did that and I think that changed how I got into the water a lot more, because my body had always had already kind of calmed down a little bit and I've been able to regulate my breathing, whereas before we've done the breath work and then we kind of jumped out and we're putting the ice in the bath and it was ended up being like 10 or 15 minutes. So it was 10 or 15 minutes of kind of nervousness and anxiety about doing it, whereas now we just sat around the bath and did our breath work and then just jumped in, so it was like a continuation.

Speaker 1: 15:14

So it was a lot easier for me this time to do that I will say as well, tash, even though you were not really wanting to do it, you did ask to go first.

Speaker 4: 15:23

I didn't, I just had to get it out, I just had to do it, and that's what jazz. Um, I promised jazz a million dollars for me getting in first because, jazz wanted to go first that's

Speaker 1: 15:32

great um tash has now signed up for a million yep an eternity to jazz, a bit like scientology.

Speaker 4: 15:40

What do they have to?

Speaker 6: 15:41

what a million a billion years.

Speaker 4: 15:43

Yeah, they have to sign up for yep, so get it in writing. Get it um, yeah, so I just wanted to do it and just get it out of the way, and um yeah, and you did yeah, you actually did, for, like it was as we spoke that you really set the tone.

Speaker 1: 15:59

It was like super controlled, super calm and like really beautiful to watch. And I think, as Nikki said, comparatively, from where, yeah, your first one was versus, because I remember you, like you know, having the, I was fighting for my life, the- first one, yeah, versus because I remember you like you know, having the, I was fighting for my life.

Speaker 1: 16:12

The first one, yeah, the first time you do it I think everyone it is it's pretty shocking and it's pretty it takes you think you know what it's going to be like and then, when you actually hit it, you're like, oh, it's not actually what I thought at all and your body is saying like, get me the fuck out of here now, now, yeah, whereas this time, even though you know you were down, closed eyes, calm, what was your song? Uh, xavier, right, true love, true love. Yeah, it's beautiful, and I think that's also really nice too, having, like, all the girls chose their own songs. Yeah, what was your one?

Speaker 1: 16:41

honey landslide oh yeah actually it was such a vibe yesterday. Yeah, I was loving it. I was just like dj singing along. It was so much fun.

Speaker 4: 16:50

But yeah, it was so beautiful to watch really really great yeah, um, tash, I'd love to know what is the biggest thing that you're taking with you from this weekend um, like I said um previous, it's definitely working on my connections because, um, I think what I said, one of the things that we did when we were journaling was, like you know, um, what's going on? Well, I can't remember, but, um, I can't remember anything. I just got snippets um that life, just she has written it all down.

Speaker 1: 17:22

I had written down. I know I'm gonna go.

Speaker 4: 17:25

Yeah, I know write it down, put it on the wall. Um, no, just that, the feeling of things being out of control in my life at the moment and um, a bit chaotic and just can't seem to pin things down. And you know, um, like we were talking about this morning, one of the the things that come out of that is you're constantly on your phone, or you know, you're constantly distracting yourself rather than connecting, you're distracting and that's been a big, big problem that I've had, that I know and I've been very aware of it.

Speaker 4: 18:01

It's just breaking, breaking that cycle, just taking those first steps which we've gone through. And so, yeah, we've got like a game plan yeah, yeah, and that's the thing it's.

Speaker 1: 18:12

It comes the point we like oh, hang on, I'm being really avoidant now. I'm busying myself with shit that I don't need to yeah how much do I want to, you know, start working through it, and I think it's saying you've really gotten clear on the fact that you want to. So it's great. Yeah, good times great times um tash.

Speaker 2: 18:27

Can I get you to hand the mic to Jazzy Beautiful Jazzy. Happy anniversary for apparently allegedly three years. Thank, you so much.

Speaker 2: 18:37

Glad to be here, jazzy. You have had a lot. You're a serial offender of the Life Ahead program. You've been through a lot of Life Ahead days with us. I have. I'd love to know, jazzy. Yesterday we did a really beautiful exercise where we really worked on our life values individually. So how you guys all um, you know your six value buckets and the things that are really important to you, and what that becomes is. It becomes basically a blueprint for us in our lives to work out what we're drawn to, what we're calling in more of, where we need to realign ourselves and the people and the environments that we put ourselves in as well.

Speaker 6: 19:17

If you feel brave, I'd love you to share one of your values that you have in your life one of my main ones is connection, which was actually given to me when you went around the table and you said to each other, like all of us, what you thought ours would be, um, and because it was a really hard question for me, but once you like explained it to me, that made a lot of sense because I really truly needs people that I like feel connected to and have like that relationship with more meaningful time.

Speaker 2: 19:49

So yeah, absolutely, and what this becomes is when we start to work out. Okay. Connection is one of your big values. How can we bring that in and draw that into every situation that we have? So for you, having a relationship where you feel really connected, having a space or an environment where you feel really connected to that, having a workplace where you feel really connected to that. Having a workplace where you feel really connected, having quality times it even makes sense with you when you go away with your girlfriends for your girlfriends' weekends. That, to you, is really important and leading up to it, you're always so excited and talk about it a lot and you absolutely love it because it's really beautiful, quality, connective time.

Speaker 6: 20:27

Yeah, I think just searching more for that.

Speaker 2: 20:33

Yeah, definitely, definitely, absolutely, and realizing that it's important to you and when we're establishing our values. You know these values can be things that we really are important to us, but we may not necessarily have completely full buckets or full cups with these values. But when I first did this exercise, it really helped me to understand when one of those buckets or cups was like tipped out or when it wasn't full, how I could look at filling up that bucket and then the benefit of what I would feel when those buckets were full. What that does is it helps us to be realigned with the things that we want out of life and the things that actually feel make our lives feel fulfilled. So you realizing that connection is really important to you, what are you going to do, moving forward, to really nurture that?

Speaker 6: 21:13

so, previous to the podcast, we've actually just done a little workshop with tess um, where she's made us write our goals for our dream life she, she invited us.

Speaker 1: 21:25

It was highly recommended um sorry she got us to have our journals out anyway. Um, we, I've forgotten this activity. What was? What was it?

Speaker 6: 21:37

um. So it was the five. I wrote mine down as like five action steps for my ideal life oh, yes, was that that was at the beginning of the year just then just then in the lounge previous to the retreat no previous to the podcast podcast oh my god, it's like 10 meters away from us um.

Speaker 1: 21:54

I've just had my first coffee, so that will be kicking in just about now. Thanks, jazz. Yes, that was a great session actually. What did I teach you in those moments?

Speaker 6: 22:07

good lord, okay cool, gotta calm myself. We had to um write out like five smart goals, um, so they've got to be specific and like measurable and have like a realistic timeline as well. Um, and with that I just wrote out in the connection part of it like things that'll make me feel connected, so having more meaningful time, um, more time, especially like finding what makes me feel good at home as well. And then we had to write action steps too, so like detailing what I needed from those as well.

Speaker 1: 22:43

So kind of like sets you up with a bit of a plan, doesn't it? Yeah, you set goals and then what the intention behind it is cool for me to achieve this. I need to do this to make sure that I can get it done and it creates it so that it is more achievable, or more like it's not just where we're writing out goals and we're like cool, they look really good, like that'll be cool if I get it done, maybe I will.

Speaker 4: 23:00

maybe I won't, We'll see how we go.

Speaker 1: 23:13

It kind of makes it so that it starts seeming quite easy to get done, rather than it being this big, huge thing of, like you know, kind of crossing your fingers and hoping maybe it'll happen. So I think that's really good that you've brought that up, because that will really help a lot of people yes, yeah, I think, definitely breaking it down and not just doing like.

Speaker 1: 23:33

I'm gonna read like you said like sitting 20 minutes, yeah, and yeah, sticking to it a small time frame, jessie, before when you did the ice bath, because you were you wanting to do an ice bath or no? No? No great, excellent, but still did. I did which song? Can you remember which song you had on? Do you want to get your?

Speaker 6: 23:52

Spotify. It's one actually. I was actually because it's called Celeste. It's called Celeste.

Speaker 1: 23:56

Yeah, and it's really pretty. Why did you choose that one? Because that was one that is not like a mainstream song.

Speaker 6: 24:07

That's one that we use a lot in the salon when we're needing to kind of charge up, and I would love you to share why you chose that song to support you, I think, because every time you girls run like a Breathwork activity, it's always that song that, like I, have a breakthrough, or that's always the song I start crying in, or something like that.

Speaker 2: 24:26

Yeah, it's a beautiful song, it's like my favourite one in the whole playlist.

Speaker 1: 24:28

I love it. Yeah, I loved that you chose one that was like a bit less mainstream. I was like really that one, but it was like when we spoke it out and I saw your response to the song.

Speaker 6: 24:40

It makes sense which it is. It's a really just peaceful song yeah, so did you find?

Speaker 1: 24:45

were you listening to it when you were in there?

Speaker 6: 24:47

I was, yeah yeah, and I think definitely like you girls saying which scenery do you want? I've got a beautiful landscape outside, so I really yeah jazz chose me which was I wanted. Yeah I chose tess um, and then I gazed out into the trees because the sun was coming in I was like I'll just pop out of the shadow yeah, yeah, we actually had a sunset, which was really, which was really nice.

Speaker 1: 25:09

I think was it in jazz's that the sun came out? I'm trying to remember.

Speaker 6: 25:13

Maybe it was tasha's nodding her head.

Speaker 1: 25:15

So apparently yes, it's just like I definitely didn't have the warmth of the sun can't remember any of the content, but can't remember when the sun came out beautiful um, guys, I'd love you to whoever wants to jump on the mic for this question.

Speaker 2: 25:31

I would love you guys to. We want to look at this and give a little piece of advice. I want to give a piece of advice to a salon owner who might be sitting on the fence wanting to do any sort of team development, team bonding with their team, and maybe they don't feel comfortable yet. A piece of advice that we would give to them. And then a piece of advice that we would give a team member who is coming into a day like this.

Speaker 4: 25:54

I'll go. So. I've been in the industry for quite a while 22 years this year so I've had a lot of different owners and I can honestly say I never would have imagined any one of them doing anything like we. We do um, but um, and I also think that, um, a lot of them wouldn't have been able to do what we do or what you guys do. In saying that, it might not have had to have gone to the depths that we go and um, like I was saying that maybe just doing something outside of the salon as a team, as as not getting out of the workplace and just connecting with your team and your boss on a different level, because usually when you're in the salon it is just work you know we, we have our clients, we have the shop, we do that.

Speaker 4: 27:01

So to salon owners it doesn't have to be ice baths and you know, I mean even journaling you probably could do. And I guess at some point, if this is salon owners' kind of first steps into connecting with their team, differently they might not be able to hold space like you guys do, who have got a lot of experience in it. But I think just taking it out of the salon and just connecting with your team maybe don't even out of the salon and just connecting with your team taking maybe don't even talk about the salon when you go out.

Speaker 4: 27:32

Just don't don't have that. Just have it as a group of people coming together and doing something fun, and that might start to lead into being able to take things in a different direction, because then the team would have trust in you that you're not just about making money for the salon and you know getting clients in, getting clients out and everything like that that they actually care about you. So you might find that just doing things a little bit lighter to start with and gaining that trust will allow and open up to them being more open to do more things and that that will make it feel safer for you to hold space for your team doing things that are a little bit deeper as well.

Speaker 1: 28:20

I think that is perfectly worded and said, because it is one of those things exactly you don't have to be like, all right, well, I better, you know, order an ice bath and work out how to do it, and like, quickly, sometimes it is just literally like connecting with your team on a human level and talking to them about things that aren't related to the clinic, salon, whatever it is that we're spaces that you're working in, talking to them on a human level, connecting with them on that level, and I feel like when we can start bringing down that wall, that's when the magic can really happen, and it can literally start from doing things like a dinner or coffee or it doesn't have to be, you know not at each other, but I think exactly it doesn't have to be like when we just start doing things that are outside of and not talking about certain clients or services or social media marketing whatever it is we need to talk about when we're in the salons, but actually talking because we haven't talked shop at all.

Speaker 2: 29:20

We actually haven't talked shop even in our sessions really at all for the last couple of days. Yeah, because it's.

Speaker 1: 29:26

It's really about, like you know, understanding and connecting on a human level, because if we all start, everyone wants to be understood and, you know, feeling heard. So when we create spaces where we can understand each other better, connect better and also with this I know from this weekend, everyone's walked in, shared how they're feeling, what's happening for them, we've actually realized a lot of people are in the same sort of positions with things right, we've all got things going on, but I think, because we have this safety and security of being able to share and be vulnerable and open with each other, it creates more of a deeper connection and therefore we leave this feeling. Well, actually, we'll do a summary of how everyone's feeling at the end, but you can like how everyone's coming versus how they're going to be going out.

Speaker 2: 30:06

I can't, I can't think that anyone would be saying you know, I feel worse, everyone's, you know hopefully, but I also want to add as well, I reckon that this is probably would you say it's the most common question that we get asked on social media, like in DMs and stuff would be about our life ahead day, like our program and like team development days.

Speaker 2: 30:23

It'd probably be a lot of people reach out and they say I'm facilitating a team day tomorrow. Can I please have some ideas, or whatever? And one thing I really want to say is like we've been running this program now for eight years. This is our eighth year of running this program and when eight years ago, when we first started doing this, it looked like going and going to an escape room together, like it looked like. It looks so different to what it is now and obviously, as the more that Tess and I have done personal development and mentorship and you know, being facilitated and certified in different things and become more trauma informed. What happens with that is we're able to facilitate and hold space for a weekend like this, but eight years ago it didn't look like this. You've got to just start somewhere and it could be going out and just doing one team bonding activity and then slowly building that trust, because it really is a two-way street.

Speaker 2: 31:12

But for Tess and I, every you know, between November and January we do all of our planning for the year and the one thing, the heaviest planning that we do in our business is related to our team.

Speaker 2: 31:24

So our team pathways, our personal development program and we really look at okay, what's our life ahead program going to look at?

Speaker 2: 31:31

We actually plan way more for our team, like 10 times more than what we do for our business or salon or clients, which some mentors may sit there and say that that's absolutely the wrong thing to do.

Speaker 2: 31:43

Our theory is if our team are happy you know, happy team equals happy clients and if you have people who are engaged and happy and fulfilled within their lives, it passes on to the clients and, in our opinion, you just can't fail. So asking yourself that question at the start of every year when you're planning out these things what opportunities can I give the people within my business this year, as opposed to, where can we grow our clientele, make more money, increase our profit? Really looking at what opportunities can we give to the people that we are working with and how can we best support them to be the best versions of themselves. And I guarantee you, if you do that, your other numbers, your other data, your profit, your clients, your attention all of those things will increase because you've got happier people standing behind the chair absolutely guys, I would love whoever feels comfortable to if there was one thing that you could say to a team member who is coming into one of these days.

Speaker 2: 32:41

All of a sudden, out of the blue, their business owner turns around and says we're going to do a team development day.

Speaker 6: 32:48

What's one tip that you would give someone going into this as a first-time team member whoever wants to jump on um, just go in with an open mind, as the girls always say when, like, what to bring in our little text? Um, just not have any doubts about it. And I think it can definitely be really nervous. I know it was my first week working with the girls. I'd been there like two days and then the next day they were like by the way, come in and wear leggings, um, it's also raining, so bring a raincoat and we're going somewhere, yeah, and you don't have anything to go off. And I had no idea what was going on until we got to work. And then we were told we were going to the city and still had no idea until we got to the city.

Speaker 6: 33:28

We actually did an amazing race, um, which was really cool. But I think even some of the days they haven't been like super, super extreme, like we're not always, I don't know, doing high ropes courses, breaking arrows and stuff. Even some of them the girls have just gone to the shops and had a budget and worked out a meal plan. Um, I wasn't a part of that day, but I've seen the real. Um, we've done fitness days and stuff like that as well, but I think definitely just having an open mind, and I think it definitely makes you have more connection with your team because, again, you're not talking about work, you're talking about other things and you find out a lot more about what you're all going through as well yeah, so beautiful guys.

Speaker 2: 34:14

We end every episode in gratitude. I'd love to pass the mic down the line, and here is there a different prompt that you want to finish on, or this is our prompt, queen.

Speaker 1: 34:29

I would love to hear one word to summarise this weekend from you, Jazzy. Let's start there.

Speaker 2: 34:45

One word to summarise the weekend that's just been, before you go off to the springs and have a beautiful, relaxing time. Yes, we're about to go to the Alba Hot Springs. It be beautiful. This is a mental health retreat, that's right we might just end the weekend yeah, we've done the ice bars.

Speaker 1: 34:54

Now we're going to do the warm baths, which will really take care of them I kind of want to say life-changing beautiful, we'll take that, that's a great word thank you so much. Perfect tashi, what's one?

Speaker 4: 35:07

word um mine.

Speaker 1: 35:09

My word is enlightening beautiful gosh, gorgeous words, guys. Oh no, I have to think. Annie the old, um, what's the word when you're like a veteran, the veteran, the veteran.

Speaker 3: 35:22

I think that's a dictionary, and I was like just because I have random facts. I'm gonna say my word that sums up, this weekend would have to be like expansive beautiful word love it, miss mills.

Speaker 1: 35:43

Second, life ahead experience, first aid, retreat. What word do we have to sum up the weekend?

Speaker 5: 35:51

My word would be clarifying.

Speaker 1: 35:53

Beautiful word Love that, thank you. What about you, nick? What's yours Word?

Speaker 2: 35:59

My word is I just feel really grateful to be able to facilitate something like this Okay, cool, I'll change mine then, obviously you won't be.

Speaker 2: 36:12

I think it's just, I'll say privilege then. I think it's a real privilege to be able to hold this space. I think the fact that we don't have any resistance when we bring these things to you guys. There are definitely points where we push you out of your comfort zones, but you always come in with an open mind and that hasn't always been the case when we've run these days. So I feel really privileged to be able to have this trust, and it's been built over you know, even for the newer people in our team.

Speaker 2: 36:37

it's been, it's, we're working on it every single day and making sure that it's a safe space. But for Tess and I, I feel like this is what our purpose is is to hold space for women and encourage them to live a more conscious and fulfilling life, and we've had the opportunity to be able to guide you guys this weekend, which has been really beautiful, and I'm so grateful and thank you for allowing us. Beautiful mate.

Speaker 1: 37:00

Yeah, I echo that. I think it's. I just have so much gratitude. You guys really do bring it Like I feel like I have like a expectation of where it is and you far exceed it. So I'm so grateful to you. Jazz, tash, han Mills, nikki, I do think you know this work is, so I think why we really like it, sharing it from our perspective, from the team's perspective, and like really wanting to see more of this sort of stuff, because I do think you know, as Tash was sharing before, after 20, what years in the game, when we start connecting with each other on a human level, it just changes it so much and the understanding and the love and the like just being seen I don't know who wrote on our love notes last week about being seen, heard and Amelia what was it being seen, heard and something else and loved?

Speaker 5: 37:55

I think it was. I'm grateful to be in a place where I feel loved, seen and heard.

Speaker 1: 38:01

Which is beautiful, and I feel that this is something that you know, we get to experience daily, and we understand each other and support each other and have each other's backs and through that, we're able to have a really great workplace that can do great things. Granted, we have our own issues and problems and everything, like everyone else, but nine times, nine, nine percent of the time, it's a pretty beautiful place to be and even when things are going wrong or don't aren't working out the way that we want to, we can handle them a lot better than what we would, I think, without these things. So, if you are thinking, considering, unsure of whether or not to do things like this, as Tasha was saying before, just start with a coffee, start with a dinner.

Speaker 2: 38:43

Start somewhere, especially being in an industry where your team it's their job to hold space for other people. So we need to look at how we can serve the humans who are holding the space. Hold space for them. Yeah, absolutely. You've got to look at the energetic exchange between that and start somewhere.

Speaker 1: 39:02

Han, would you like to take us out?

Speaker 2: 39:08

Do you remember it? You can say whatever you want. Hand thanks for listening, stay conscious, thanks guys, thanks so much for listening to this episode and hanging out with us today to hear more about our journey. Follow us on Instagram at the underscore conscious underscore salon If you're a shit speller, check the spelling of conscious or at a head hair underscore. Thank you so much for joining us today and we'll see you in the next episode.