Helpful tips Stylists watch out for the following:
professional over another. This is where the lines will get crossed and the client may think a stylist is saying telling them that one professional is better than another. 3. Clients who engage in constant gossip about other people. They may engage in a long monologue about various people and then it’s easy to slip in the question; “So, what do you think?” or “I’m right about that aren’t I?” Here’s where stylists need to stay aware, alert, and present in the conversation. Again, stylists can say that it’s not for them to comment on, but they don’t mind listening. 4. Clients who seek power and control. Some individuals enjoy controlling others for many complicated reasons. They are likely not just doing this with their stylist, but with many people. discussed earlier, it’s inappropriate to develop friendships with clients. They are clients, not friends. Stylists must maintain a solid boundary in this area. Helpful tips Stylists should: 1. Remember to stay professional and impersonal. 2. Not tell clients where they live, or too much about themselves. 3. Establish healthy boundaries (as discussed earlier). 4. Not accept gifts. 5. Not become too close. 6. Not set ‘dates’ or times to meet. 7. Never ask your clients for personal advice on any personal matter. 8. Never tell your clients intimate details of their life or family. 9. Never give the impression in any way that they are anything more than a professional and client. mentor know they want to learn from them. They will likely be very flattered and eager to help. 5. The same is true of a supervisor/owner. Stylists can ask them out for a coffee or lunch and dig into their expertise. Again, stylists should let these potential mentors know that they want to benefit from their experience and knowledge. Why and how mentoring helps 1. Finding a mentor is one of the best ways to succeed in any business or endeavor. A mentor is a knowledgeable professional that has something to offer another professional–for free. In the salon industry, two types of people consider themselves mentors: mentors who specialize in professional development and mentors who specialize in technical development. 2. A professional development mentor provides career guidance and support to industry professionals. They help new graduates create resumes and coach them before interviews. Some mentors work with business owners (or potential business owners). Generally, mentors offer professional guidance of some sort. Professional mentors should possess education and experience, which they use as the basis of their advice. . 3. A mentor can reveal parts of the professional world that new stylists otherwise would have to discover for themselves. Mentors know their professions well and can provide a clearer image of what the industry is like so that stylists can make an informed career decision. For instance, a mentor may reveal to an aspiring product brand ambassador that the job requires a lot of travel and low pay, allowing the stylist to reconsider their career path. 4. Mentors inspire. Mentors who demonstrate belief in a stylist can help them gain more confidence in themselves. 5. They encourage others and empathize with them. A mentor has “been there.” They have endured the same baptism by fire and emerged from the flames victorious. When a
1. Clients who keep pressing stylists for advice no matter how many times they’ve said they’re not allowed to give advice under any circumstances. If this is happening, stylists may want to consider letting the client go. Stylists should first discuss it with a supervisor and outline the situation. The problem here is the client is unable to hold their own boundaries and they’re seeking advice wherever they can get it. 2. Clients who try to encourage stylists to gossip about colleagues. It may begin as something innocent, such as which colorist they should work with. It is likely appropriate to give recommendations, but stylists shouldn’t hold up one Talk less One of the easiest and most effective ways to avoid gossiping, giving advice, and crossing lines in a conversation is to listen more than talk. Stylists can let the client go on about whatever they choose to talk about, but they don’t have to respond. Stylists can simply smile and say, “I hear you.” They can nod and simply smile. Stylists are not obligated to respond or to say anything. The strategy here is for the stylist to remain detached and neutral as noted above. Otherwise, the client will find it easy to draw stylists into their problems. Information sharing today is almost a given. There is so much information about all of us out there that it’s almost understood that people don’t mind sharing everything about themselves. However, this can become a slippery slope. It becomes easier and easier to let out increasingly more personal information. If a client believes a stylist is doing so, it can be very easy for them to get the wrong impression about the relationship. They may mistakenly believe that a friendship is developing. However, as Find a mentor It takes time to develop skills as a professional. Once the training is complete, the real work begins. This is when stylists learn how they want to work, where they want to work and the type of career they wish to develop. Stylists should be patient with themselves and not rush. Stylists can, over time, develop communication skills, marketing techniques, and a specific type of career. The good news is many people out there have already traveled down the same road. At one point, they were the new stylist or salon professional on the block. They were easing their way into the salon and facing the jitters. There is a great deal of support available. Helpful tips Stylists should follow these tips to develop their skills and career: 1. Hold a discussion when first hired. During the hiring process, stylists may discuss the kind of salon they’re being hired into, the kinds of professionals they prefer to work with, and the expectations the salon has of them. It’s critical during these discussions that the stylist reveals to the employer who they are and the type of career they envision, in order to ensure a good match with the salon. 2. Take the time to ask a lot of questions early on in the onboarding process. This shows that a stylist cares and wants to be their best. 3. Get to know colleagues soon after being hired, as everyone will be spending a lot of time together. New stylists should let coworkers know that they want to have a positive working relationship. 4. Mentoring is one of the most effective ways people have of learning new skills and succeeding in a new endeavor. It’s unlikely that stylists will be given a mentor (although it could happen). Stylists can scope out the salon. Watch the way people work. If someone stands out, the stylist can approach that person and ask to observe them from time to time. The stylist could ask them out for a coffee or lunch and get to know the potential mentor better. The stylist should let the
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