Showing Up Well

How do you present yourself in your practice, personal life, and in public settings? Why is this important?

Let’s explore the essential aspect of presenting yourself effectively and how it can benefit your massage therapy business. The phrase “showing up well” may seem ambiguous, so let’s clarify: it refers to both your presence and your demeanour.

Presence is understood as the state of being, existing, or happening in a specific place or context. Demeanour, on the other hand, pertains to the outward behaviour you exhibit, which stems from your intentions. So there are numerous factors to consider when it comes to presenting yourself effectively in a massage practice.

Dress for Success

How you choose to present yourself in your practice space is important. Have you heard the phrase, dress for the job you want rather than the job you have? Embrace the principle of dressing for success. Each client is essentially an opportunity for a new job interview—you want them to hire you again after the session concludes. By impressing clients with your professional appearance, you enhance their perception of you as a therapist. Additionally, your attire communicates to the public what they can expect from you as a massage therapist.

Communicate Effectively

How we choose to speak significantly influences how people perceive us. Utilising accurate anatomical terminology when discussing the body conveys expertise and professionalism to clients but it’s essential to find a balance between avoiding jargon that may confuse clients and using appropriate terms to clearly express our ideas and treatment plans. 

Reflect on your everyday communication style. Are you speaking with respect? Do your words reflect love and compassion? Are you expressing solutions and positive intentions? Using uplifting language will not only draw clients to your practice but also spread some lovely positivity out into the world.

Listen Closely

The way you listen can have a significantly impact on success. By putting aside ego and preconceived notions, a therapist can genuinely hear what clients are expressing and experiencing. Clients will sense and value your genuine effort to understand their health issues. By paying attention to both their words and body language, you can greatly enhance your ability to understand their situation and respond effectively.

Learn Well

Enhancing your skills is crucial to effectively supporting clients. Some might perceive further learning as an unnecessary inconvenience. Don’t be complacent and rest on your laurels. Continued learning adds more tools to assist your clients. It’s also a pathway to self-empowerment and personal growth. It should be a professional obligation to stay updated with the latest research and advancements in your field.

Leave your Ego at the Door

You might possess a wealth of knowledge and could undoubtedly teach me a few things. But stop and think, was your input solicited? What was the motivation? Are you coming from a genuine place of sharing, or are you simply trying to impress with your accomplishments? Bottom line, ego can be off-putting. Many seasoned therapists mistakenly believe that their extensive experience guarantees a superior treatment. However, this profession is far more complex than that. It’s possible that a less experienced therapist was more attentive to the client’s needs and focused on areas of concern instead of only those the ego-led therapist considered significant. Additionally, that same less experienced therapist may have just read this article and dressed for success, communicated effectively, listened closely, learnt well and parked their ego at the door and gained themselves a new client in the process!