Just about everyone wants to advance in his or her chosen vocation. No one wants to simply stay put; everyone wants to get somewhere else. But few people really know how to make their own advancement happen.
Massage career development is not very complex—which is not to say it is easy to accomplish. On the contrary, it requires a tremendous amount of discipline to be able to maximize the resources available to you: your time, money and energy.
Once you have mastered the skill of using what you have to the fullest, you will be well on your way to personal growth and massage career advancement.
Here are three things you can do to be an exceptional therapist and keep moving forward in your massage career:
1. Read Extensively
In many fields, including massage therapy, reading is one of the best things you can do to educate yourself. If you expect to get anywhere in the world, you will do your share of study and research, if only in the subject areas which apply to your line of work.
A large number of self-development professionals say that anyone who aspires to be a leader in their industry must read for at least 30 minutes a day. After all, they say, reading is to the mind as exercise is to the body. By keeping your mind sharp and staying abreast of the developments in your field, you will have a decided advantage over those who simply do not bother.
If you don’t currently keep up with the latest massage research, check out websites such as PubMed, the Massage Therapy Foundation, and the Touch Research Institute. MASSAGE Magazine also publishes reports about current research in both the print edition and in a searchable online database.
2. Provide What Is Required
Whether you work for a massage practice, franchise or for yourself, a fundamental principle is to give your clients what they want.
If you are an employee, giving clients what they want also means giving your boss what he or she wants, in terms of work productivity. If you operate a business yourself, the principle requires no further explanation.
Always try to find out exactly what is expected of you, and what clients want to receive from you. As a business owner, this will mean conducting market research. You may also want to send out short surveys to your clients to better define their needs. Making a habit of reading your reviews on sites such as Yelp will also give you an idea of what you’re doing right—or wrong—so you can keep your clients happy.
As an employee, this will mean making a study of your company and finding the area where your unique skills are certain to have an effect. In addition to committing yourself to giving each and every client the very best massage session you can deliver, you also need to focus on being part of a team. You should read employee policies and procedures manuals thoroughly, follow rules, attend required meetings, and ask questions of your supervisor if you do not understand what the company wants you to do.
3. Go the Extra Mile in Your Massage Career
Self-help author Napoleon Hill advised everyone to “go the extra mile” in everything that they do. According to Hill, when you spend an hour doing something you don’t have to do for the benefit of someone else, that one hour can be worth more than the rest of your day.
Over time, a policy of going the extra mile will provide you untold benefits—and will do wonders for your massage career opportunities.
About the Author
Charles Williams is a writer for lsft.org, a publisher of motivation and self-improvement links.