The Staff Layer: The Humans Who Hold Your Holistic Grooming System© Together
When we talk about the “staff layer” of a Holistic Grooming System©, many business owners say, “But I don’t have staff—it’s just me.”
But here’s the truth: if you are in your business, you ARE the staff.
And the humans—whether one or twenty—are the backbone of your operation. They determine the tone, the energy, the quality of service, the longevity of the business, and the happiness of the pets in your care.
A balanced staff layer isn’t about perks or pampering. It’s about sustainability.
When humans are healthy—mind, body, and joy—the whole business thrives. When they’re not, burnout festers, morale drops, culture declines, and everything from client relations to the pets themselves begins to suffer.
So why should you care about staff happiness, even if you’re the only name on payroll?
Because:
- Pets can literally smell happy endorphins. Uplifted humans create calmer, safer pets.
- Happy groomers stay longer. Reducing turnover saves thousands of dollars and countless hours.
- Happy teams form camaraderie. Positive energy radiates into every interaction in your business.
- Unhappy groomers burn out. And burnout doesn’t just affect one person—it impacts everyone.
Let’s dig into how to keep the staff layer—your people—balanced.
1. Supporting the Mind
Ask yourself: are your staff (or you) mentally supported?
- Sometimes the problem isn’t laziness—it’s mismatched tasks. Introverted, conflict-avoidant staff should NOT be sent into tense client interactions.
- Drama at work? Learn de-escalation skills to stop emotional fires before they scorch your culture.
- And remember: our industry attracts a large percentage of neurodiverse individuals. What makes perfect sense to one person may feel chaotic or overwhelming to another.
The question is not: “Why aren’t they doing it the way I want?”
The real question is: “How can I work WITH who they are?”
Rigid, “my-way-or-the-highway” leadership suffocates teams. Holistic leadership strengthens them.
2. Supporting the Body
Physical well-being is not optional in a physical career.
- Provide ergonomic tools and equipment.
- Insist on breaks—no one earns a medal for skipping lunch.
- Pay attention to medical concerns that may require accommodation.
An overworked body will always, inevitably, betray the mind.
3. Supporting Joy
Joy is the fuel that keeps groomers going. Without it, burnout is inevitable.
Ask yourself:
- Are you paying a living wage? Staff worrying about bills cannot focus on creating exceptional experiences.
- Are you encouraging continuing education? When employers discourage education—or refuse time off to pursue it—groomers begin looking for the exit.
- Do you show appreciation? Small gestures matter.
A groomer who feels valued becomes a groomer who stays.
4. Supporting Emotional Health in Times of Loss
Losing pets is the hardest part of our profession. Bringing in a grief counselor during difficult times shows compassion for your staff—and for yourself.
5. Eliminating Toxicity
Some groomers feed on gossip, belittling, or bullying. No matter how skilled they are, toxic employees poison culture. Remove them.
Then build camaraderie with team activities—paint nights, escape rooms, classes, volunteer days. Humans bond through shared experience.
6. Clarifying Expectations With Legal Tools
Do you have a compliant employee handbook reviewed by a business lawyer in your state?
Do you have a supportive onboarding system so new groomers can succeed?
Onboarding is expensive—make sure you keep the people you hire.
7. Protecting Your Happiness
You are part of the staff layer.
Your happiness matters just as much as everyone else’s.
If an employee continually makes you miserable through entitlement, negativity, or refusal to follow policy, it’s time to let them go—while following the legal steps outlined in your handbook to avoid unnecessary claims.
A Balanced Staff Layer Elevates Everything
When the staff layer is aligned—mind nourished, body supported, joy replenished—everything improves:
- Pets smell and respond to positive energy.
- Clients walk into an uplifting environment.
- Owners witness a business that runs with ease instead of strain.
- Problems become solvable instead of overwhelming.
As Denise Heroux wisely said:
“When the mindset shifts to a holistic approach to managing our employee and client relations, we are setting ourselves up to achieve and go beyond the goals we set for ourselves.”
Happy staff may still move on for normal life reasons—but they will not flee out of frustration, exhaustion, or emotional depletion.
At the end of the day, the heart of a thriving grooming business is simple:
Support the humans, and everything else falls into place.