You didn’t open a medspa to deal with team drama, but here you are, playing full-time referee when strong personalities clash, wondering why your top injector can’t sell retail product, and trying to figure out how yesterday’s star employee is today’s biggest headache. All before your morning coffee kicks in. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Leading a medical spa to success requires a unique blend of clinical expertise, entrepreneurialism and people skills that go far beyond traditional healthcare management. While many practice owners focus on the latest technology and marketing strategies — which, of course, are important — the most successful medspas know that an exceptional, well-oiled team is the foundation of sustained growth and client satisfaction.

Despite this, too many medspa managers struggle to balance the clinical demands of aesthetic medicine with the interpersonal complexities of leading diverse professionals. From experienced nurses and aestheticians to front desk coordinators, each team member brings distinct skills, motivations and challenges that require thoughtful leadership approaches.

At MINT Aesthetics, we help medspas stand out from the crowd with advanced training that sets the stage for long-term success. Keep reading to learn more about managing your most valuable asset (your team) and how our resources provide you with the strategies you need to be an effective leader in the highly competitive world of medical aesthetics. 

Understand Your Team’s Unique Dynamics

Aesthetic professionals work under numerous pressures. They must blend medical precision with excellence in customer service while staying current on rapidly changing technologies and treatment modalities. Your leadership should acknowledge these demands and create an environment that promotes clinical excellence to help individuals thrive in their roles. 

However, each role within your practice presents distinct challenges that require tailored management approaches. Nurses transitioning from hospital settings often need time to adjust to the retail aspects of aesthetic medicine. They may feel uncomfortable with sales or struggle to balance medical recommendations with revenue considerations. Conversely, aestheticians typically excel at client relationships but may need additional support when it comes to understanding the medical implications of various treatments.

And don’t forget about the front desk. As the first point of contact for patients, the front desk is critical to your medspa’s success. This role might seem straightforward, but it calls for more than just a warm smile and a friendly demeanor — they should have training and support in everything from scheduling systems to the conditions treated by the services you offer. When your front desk team has the tools to succeed, they do more than greet clients. They help convert them, retain them and elevate the entire patient experience.

Set Clear Goals & Expectations

Successful medspa management begins with establishing crystal-clear expectations. Rather than hoping your team understands what success looks like, document specific benchmarks for each role and regularly review progress through structured meetings or evaluations.

For providers, this means setting expectations around consultation conversion rates, treatment outcomes, client satisfaction scores and continuing education requirements. Front desk staff should have clear targets for appointment scheduling, rebooking and retail product sales.

The key lies in making these expectations attainable while providing the tools and training necessary for success. When team members understand exactly what’s expected and feel equipped to meet those standards, performance naturally improves.

Regular performance evaluations shouldn’t feel punitive — nobody wants surprise report cards.  Instead, they should serve as an opportunity for feedback and goal setting. In addition to formal reviews, we recommend regular biweekly or monthly staff meetings where all team members can share their successes or challenges, ask questions, inquire about training opportunities and align on practice goals. As an example, our medspa, AesthetiCare, holds three monthly meetings: one for front desk and support staff, one for providers, and one for all staff. 

Build a Culture of Collaboration and Support

The most successful medspas foster collaborative environments where team members support each other’s success rather than compete for recognition or resources. This requires intentional culture-building efforts that go beyond occasional team meetings or staff events (but don’t forget about the last one — everyone loves a good party!). 

Start by modeling collaborative behavior in your own interactions. At AesthetiCare, our medspa in Kansas City and one of the largest aesthetic centers in the country, we encourage cross-training between roles to build empathy and understanding. When your front desk staff shadows treatment sessions, they gain valuable insights that improve their ability to answer client questions and set appropriate expectations. Similarly, when clinical staff spend time at the front desk, they learn about the challenges of scheduling and client management.

We also recommend creating systems for sharing knowledge and best practices among team members. After all, top-performing aesthetic professionals crave opportunities for advancement and skill development. Regular case study discussions, treatment technique sharing sessions and advanced group training courses help everyone learn from collective experience.

Manage Performance Issues Effectively

Even with excellent hiring practices and comprehensive training, you’ll occasionally need to address performance issues. The key lies in addressing problems quickly and constructively while maintaining team morale and professional relationships.

Document performance concerns objectively, focusing on specific behaviors and outcomes rather than personality traits or assumptions about motivation. Privately, provide clear feedback about what needs to change and establish realistic timelines for improvement. Never provide criticism or negative feedback in public; save those conversations for a one-on-one setting. 

Assess the resources you provide to your team. If you see complications regularly, struggle with product sales, or notice a lack of specific treatment bookings, consider investing in additional training. Your team is only capable of delivering the results based on the education they have. Many issues can be solved by providing additional training or ongoing support. 

When team members consistently underperform despite support and training, don’t hesitate to make difficult decisions. Keeping poor performers not only hurts practice results but also demoralizes high-achieving team members who may feel their efforts go unrecognized.

However, before considering termination, ensure you’ve provided adequate training, clear expectations and reasonable opportunities for improvement. Sometimes performance issues stem from misunderstandings and insufficient support rather than lack of ability or motivation.

Invest in Comprehensive Training Programs

The most effective medspa leaders recognize that training is an investment that pays dividends, not an expense. In fact, AesthetiCare budgets about $60k for ongoing training each year. Your team’s confidence directly impacts client outcomes and satisfaction, making ongoing education essential for both clinical and business success.

Structure your training programs around three core components: clinical skills, consultation techniques and business acumen. Technical clinical training should extend beyond basic device operation to include understanding treatment mechanisms, contraindications and combination therapy approaches. This deeper knowledge allows your team to have more meaningful conversations with clients and make appropriate recommendations.

Consultation training deserves particular attention since effective consultations drive revenue and client satisfaction simultaneously. Teaching your team the principles of trust-building and treatment planning transforms routine appointments into relationship-building opportunities.

But even the best clinical and consultation skills won’t lead to sustainable success if your team doesn’t understand the business behind the practice. When your nurses and aestheticians understand economics, profit margins and growth goals, they become more invested in the success of the medspa, seeing themselves as key contributors to the practice’s future. 

Lead by Example

Though the actions above will put your practice on the right course for success, there is one aspect that has a direct impact on every piece of your business: You. As you assess the performance of your team, reflect on your own actions. 

If you preach promptness, but arrive late daily, your team hears one message but sees another. If your team struggles with interpersonal drama, but you continue to tolerate catty situations, they will continue to engage in toxic behavior. 

However, it’s not all negative. When your team sees you striving for better team performance, putting in additional effort, and supporting those around you, that attitude can be infectious. 

Ultimately, you set the tone for your practice. That means meeting—or even exceeding—the standard and expectations set for your team. Lead by example and lead with purpose. 

Transform Your Team Leadership Approach With MINT

Effective medspa management requires developing leadership skills that motivate diverse personalities toward common goals. When you master the art of motivating aesthetic professionals, you create an environment where both your team and your practice can thrive.

Ready to elevate your leadership abilities and build a high-performing team? MINT Aesthetics offers comprehensive training programs designed specifically for medspa managers and their teams. Our e-courses provide proven strategies for retaining top talent, while our hands-on training can help you implement effective leadership skills that drive results.

Don’t just manage your medspa — lead it. Explore our training options and join the 1,900+ clinics who’ve grown their revenue and built exceptional teams with MINT’s proven strategies.