Traits of a highly successful MT

[Monique]

If you were hiring a massage therapist, what traits would you look for?

It will be interesting to see how our lists compare and contrast.

My list of desirable traits include:


Graduated from a massage therapy school
Has a good sense of rhythm and flow
Has versatility - can deliver a variety of pressure from light Swedish to digging deep tissue and all pressures in between
Knows when to shut their mouth in a session
Practices good draping technique
Practices good hygiene
Knows how to talk to people
Has a jovial personality
Has a basic understanding of a computer and the internet
Lives within 4 miles of my office
Is okay starting with a low client load
Knows how to encourage a clients to rebook before they leave
Is preferably between the ages of 28 and 45
Prefers to be an employee

What do you have on your list? How will yours be different than mine, how will it be the same. Should be an interesting thread.

My SCORE counselor asked me to come up with a list.

 

[Aron]

Traits of a highly successful MT

I think you're actually looking for "desired characteristics for an MT employee" ... those may or may not be quite different than "traits of a highly successful MT."

 

[Judy B]

Traits of a highly successful MT

Personally, I don't think a jovial personality is a great requirement. Any of the personality types can be both very successful and very easy to work with. Manners make the difference, and whether or not the two of you personally "click". I "click" with people of all personality types - and there are people of each personality type with whom I do not click. Your clients will have different personality preferences and issues, too, so you want to be careful not to have an office full of jovial folks when jovial just might not be at all what some potential clients enjoy.

What I would look for is

Respectfulness
Interest in others, interest in personal growth and in business growth
Resourcefulness
Work ethic
Ability to see the frequently greater benefit of delayed gratification over that of instant gratification
Appropriate training
Honest representation of training, experience and abilities

 

[knz]

Traits of a highly successful MT

Wow - guess I"m over the hill then!!! :irked:....

 

[name-me]

Traits of a highly successful MT

Wow - guess I"m over the hill then!!! :irked:....

Oh yeah - I'd drop the age requirement, too, lol .........just so that *I* don't feel over the hill! I've already hit her wall!! :shock:

 

[awesomeguy]

Traits of a highly successful MT

Personally, I'm wondering how easily one could enforce the "lives within 4 miles of the office" requirement. While I certainly understand the desire to know that you could reasonably expect "accessibility and promptness" in a prospective employee (IOW, to know that they could get there quickly if needed to pinch-hit), I think it's unreasonable to make "closeness" an actual requirement to employment. You might also find yourself hard-pressed to find someone with all the REST of your requirements, who also lives within a 4-mile radius of your office. I'd much prefer to have someone who met at least most of the rest of my requirements, especially if I "clicked" with them, and let them live further away, than to insist on someone who lived that close by, but who might not otherwise be a good fit.

 

[ShoppingBandGeek]

Traits of a highly successful MT

Yeah, I know there may be some things on my list like living 4 miles from my place or the age thing that won't be as easy to find as others.

These traits would be my perfect MT employee. Knowing there is no such thing as perfection, I will have to settle no matter who I eventually hire. I only wish I could clone myself, cause most of these things pertain to me.

The reason I put an age in there is because it is nice to have some life experience under your belt. On the other side, I want someone who is looking for a job for more than a year or two before they retire.

Of course, if I had two employees, where one lacked, hopefully the other would shine.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Traits of a highly successful MT

Yeah, I know there may be some things on my list like living 4 miles from my place or the age thing that won't be as easy to find as others.

These traits would be my perfect MT employee. Knowing there is no such thing as perfection, I will have to settle no matter who I eventually hire. I only wish I could clone myself, cause most of these things pertain to me.

The reason I put an age in there is because it is nice to have some life experience under your belt. On the other side, I want someone who is looking for a job for more than a year or two before they retire.

Of course, if I had two employees, where one lacked, hopefully the other would shine.

I didn't even bring this up in my previous post: this looks an awfully lot like discrimination against not only "older" MT's, but also against younger ones. How do you know that my 18yo son wouldn't be the *perfect* fit for your business? No, he's not "got lotsa years on him", but he's got experience and wisdom that the *vast* majority of "older" people do not have. And sometimes, having someone "younger" on staff could appeal to the younger/college crowd more so than someone "with more experience" (remember "never trust anyone over the age of 30"???).

 

[Love Always]

Traits of a highly successful MT

If you were hiring a massage therapist, what traits would you look for?


My list of desirable traits include:

• Knows when to shut their mouth in a session
  ...
• Lives within 4 miles of my office
  ...
• Is preferably between the ages of 28 and 45

Yeah, I know there may be some things on my list like living 4 miles from my place or the age thing that won't be as easy to find as others.

On the other side, I want someone who is looking for a job for more than a year or two before they retire.

Just musing here...

I worked as an "IC" for a number... many numbers of years.... part time while working on my office. I was always about 35 miles away from any given job. And, although I am a year or so shy of the 45 mark you made... I can't imagine retiring in a few years! I have a few friends who work in a day spa, always have, who are over 45. They also don't live within 4 miles of the spa and work better than most younger types you'd ever meet. Not to say a younger person can't be a hard worker - but I seriously don't think age should be a factor. I think ther persons work ethic, stamina and stability should.

And, when do you feel it is time to shut one's mouth during a session? I have plenty of clients who talk the whole time through.

 

[nomorebuffalo]

Traits of a highly successful MT

And, when do you feel it is time to shut one's mouth during a session? I have plenty of clients who talk the whole time through.

I have had experience with other MT's who talk during most of the session. I would work on a client and the session would be pretty much silent. When this other MT worked on the very same client, I could here talking through a good portion of the session. When the MT came out, more often than not I would eventually hear some sort of story.

She would find out things from clients I had seen for years and didn't know, and had nothing to do with the session.

Yes, I do have clients who talk through the entire session, but I also have silent clients. It seems this MT prefers her clients to talk and talks on purpose.

 

[The educator]

Traits of a highly successful MT

Capable of building regular clientele.
Willing to sign a no-compete, or reasonable contract regarding client information.
Is AVAILABLE to work with 30 min. notice on scheduled days.
Leaves personal problems at home.
Has a support system.

 

[Shine 07 13 71]

Traits of a highly successful MT

And, when do you feel it is time to shut one's mouth during a session? I have plenty of clients who talk the whole time through.

I have had experience with other MT's who talk during most of the session. I would work on a client and the session would be pretty much silent. When this other MT worked on the very same client, I could here talking through a good portion of the session. When the MT came out, more often than not I would eventually hear some sort of story.

She would find out things from clients I had seen for years and didn't know, and had nothing to do with the session.

Yes, I do have clients who talk through the entire session, but I also have silent clients. It seems this MT prefers her clients to talk and talks on purpose.

Not exactly following you here. Why do you feel it is wrong that the therapist found out something you never knew about the client or discussed something other than the "session"?

I guess everyone has their own style, but as long as the clients are happy, what does it really matter?

I am just honing in on this, so you have more to chew on and think about.

 

[Iko C]

Traits of a highly successful MT

Question: would you hire someone trained and accomplished in a number of modalities if that person was older than 45? Most people are able to retire only after they reach 65 (and with this economy - retiring won't really matter financially). Are you fearful that the older person is just 'doing' massage as a hobby and they'll grow out of it? There are 8 therapists in the clinic where I work. None of them are younger than 45. They have been there for years with no intention of leaving.

IMHO, I think the qualifications of any massage therapist should be focused on their ability to do the work: ethics, confidentiality, skill set, etc. The only characteristic I can think of that would be outside that list would be the ability to work well with others. And, if you have employees on call, then maybe able to get to the space within an hour.

 

[Steven Miles]

Traits of a highly successful MT

Most people are able to retire only after they reach 65 (and with this economy - retiring won't really matter financially.

if you are under 50, which most people here are, then retirement is more than feasible at 65.

With stock prices at their current levels, there has not been a better time to invest in your retirement. Lots of upside in the next 15 to 20 years. All it takes is discipline to retire rich.

 

[mothers of invention]

Traits of a highly successful MT

With stock prices at their current levels, there has not been a better time to invest in your retirement. Lots of upside in the next 15 to 20 years. All it takes is discipline to retire rich.

Uhm... And money to invest ???? We love the sentiments, but don't all have it. t017

 

[dramagirl]

Traits of a highly successful MT

Traits of Highly Successful MT
Highly skilled in their bodywork modality
Personable, warm, approachable
Intuitive
Reliable
Ethical & Respectful
Strong business skills, including money management & marketing
Kindly assertive, with the ability to maintain professional boundaries
Strong in Self-love & Self-care

Traits of a Desirable Employee MT
Everything listed above, except the business skills.

Traits of a Desirable Employer
Strong business & marketing skills
Fair, honest & open with expectations
Good communication skills
A busy practice with the ability to keep an employee's schedule full
Ethical & Respectful
Offers fair compensation package
Someone who hires based on important qualities rather than superficial traits.

 

[A.Herd]

Traits of a highly successful MT

With stock prices at their current levels, there has not been a better time to invest in your retirement. Lots of upside in the next 15 to 20 years. All it takes is discipline to retire rich.

Uhm... And money to invest ???? We love the sentiments, but don't all have it. t017

I was thinking the same thing. : I'm just thrilled I can pay my bills...mostly. :

 

[Mr. Ed]

Traits of a highly successful MT

With stock prices at their current levels, there has not been a better time to invest in your retirement. Lots of upside in the next 15 to 20 years. All it takes is discipline to retire rich.

Uhm... And money to invest ???? We love the sentiments, but don't all have it. t017

I was thinking the same thing. : I'm just thrilled I can pay my bills...mostly. :

I think R&R makes a good point. Although some people literally don't have any extraneous money, many people do, but choose to spend instead of save. If you have enough money to meet a friend for lunch, go out to a movie, buy a new shirt, treat yourself to a cappuccino, or stop for a soda on your way to work, you also have enough money to invest in your retirement. It's a choice that many of us have, and just don't consciously realize. I'm not saying it's true for you peuppi & palpable, but it's definitely true for many who read this forum. So, I see R&R's perspective as a helpful reminder.

 

[Combat Commo hooah]

Traits of a highly successful MT

Although some people literally don't have any extraneous money, many people do, but choose to spend instead of save. If you have enough money to meet a friend for lunch, go out to a movie, buy a new shirt, treat yourself to a cappuccino, or stop for a soda on your way to work, you also have enough money to invest in your retirement. It's a choice that many of us have, and just don't consciously realize. I'm not saying it's true for you peuppi & palpable, but it's definitely true for many who read this forum. So, I see R&R's perspective as a helpful reminder.

Good point. However, I don't think this is true for most people on this forum. It may be true for many, but I just don't think it's most (and I do note that you say *many*), as may better be seen by this poll we have in this section: http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=6648

I just want to bring things into perspective for what I feel is more likely according to our group of members.

All it takes is discipline to retire rich.

I was mainly remarking to this comment.

/rant
/horriffic hijack
*beats mee-self witt a wet noodle*

 

[g0t_rice57]

Traits of a highly successful MT

If you were hiring a massage therapist, what traits would you look for?

It will be interesting to see how our lists compare and contrast.

My list of desirable traits include:


Graduated from a massage therapy school
Has a good sense of rhythm and flow
Has versatility - can deliver a variety of pressure from light Swedish to digging deep tissue and all pressures in between
Knows when to shut their mouth in a session
Practices good draping technique
Practices good hygiene
Knows how to talk to people
Has a jovial personality
Has a basic understanding of a computer and the internet
Lives within 4 miles of my office
Is okay starting with a low client load
Knows how to encourage a clients to rebook before they leave
Is preferably between the ages of 28 and 45
Prefers to be an employee

What do you have on your list? How will yours be different than mine, how will it be the same. Should be an interesting thread.

My SCORE counselor asked me to come up with a list.

In my experience, age and driving distance are useless as indicators of good future MT employees.