centered on the customer ’ s needs and emphasize the importance of making others feel valued and needed .

4 Play the Game of Now : Overcome the barrier of feeling unprepared by embracing action . Gupta observed that extraordinary individuals often accepted challenges without feeling entirely ready . Courage , he suggested , would manifest as you take action , rather than waiting for it to precede action . n

powered leaders like Martha Stewart , who average eight small breaks a day . Implement the 55-5 model , allocating five minutes of each working hour to a focused break . Keeping an energy journal can help identify patterns of peak energy throughout the day .

2 Treat people like builders instead of buyers : Embrace the IKEA Effect , recognizing

that people value something more when they have a hand in creating it . Foster a culture of ownership by involving team members in the problem-solving process . Prioritize asking questions over providing answers , and emphasize catching people doing things right rather than wrong .

3 Switch the spotlight : Elevate energy levels by adopting a service-oriented vision . Shift from a mindset of “ getting ” to “ giving ,” focusing on what you can contribute in each interaction . Maintain a narrative

SPA INDUSTRY RESEARCH was in focus during the Baborhosted Power Session on the middle day of the 2024 ISPA Conference . Colin McIlheney , ISPA ’ s research advisor and

longtime PwC partnership liaison , returned to the stage to present “ Big Five ” findings from the 2023 U . S . Spa Industry Study . ( See more information on page 44 .)

ISPA Foundation Chair Todd Shaw reminded attendees the annual report — along with other industry research funded by the Foundation — is critical for everyone in spa operations . Shaw also presented the

2024 ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award to Tammy Pahel and introduced Day Two keynote speaker Suneel Gupta .

— CHERYL PROSSERMAN

JUNE 2024 n PULSE 23