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The hair salon:
Challenges.Vision.Goals
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2. +
The challenge
n You own a busy and successful salon. You employ a number of good talented creative
staff. You provide trainees and assistants to work and support your team.
n You feel that you are fair to your staff and business is good, everything is going along
smoothly. Clients are loyal so retention is good.
n The salon seems to have a reputation for both service and standards of work.
n Then one morning everything changes! Your two busiest stylists come in and tell you
that they are leaving to open a salon on their own. They offer you two weeks notice and
tell you it’s nothing personal but they both feel they need a new challenge and that they
feel that they have done and experienced about as much as possible in this present
arrangement!
n Off the bat you are shocked. You are devastated quite rightly. But how do you now cope
with this?
n Anger, fear, resentment, panic! Followed by how will the salon cope? What about their
clients? Thoughts like why did they not come to me? I don’t deserve this. Why me!
n Has this ever happened to you? If not chances are it will. If it has then I’m touching a
cord.
n Why do I choose this as a subject? Because it’s one not touched on; feels best left alone.

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Challenge and vision
n The fact is it’s natural progression and it will happen. Have I done it to
owner /business partners? Yes! Has it happened to me? Yes it has! I write
to share experience and open discussion.
n At the time of me leaving a business I was involved in I felt I was fully
justified in getting out. I was a minority shareholder and the two guys I
was in business with were taking advantage of my work ethic and
looking after their best interests. I had to do the same. Look after No 1.
n Having been let down myself was harder and I did not see it coming. On
reflection I should not have allowed business and pleasure or
employment and social life to mix too much. The outcome was being let
down and left in a very difficult situation.
n On reflection and from experience these situations are like any break
up; stressful and it seems the best way to deal with it is to attribute
blame. What we really need to do though is look at the big picture. Look
at the build up of events and the role we played.
n Consider the circumstances running up to this situation we find
ourselves in. Can we really understand what has transpired that has
culminated in this business disaster? How we handle this is really the
key to moving on and having closure.

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Vision and goals
n After the initial shock how would you handle it? What would you do? Damage
control? Perhaps ask the stylist to leave immediately; employment terminated?
n Get the receptionist on the phone to all their clients? Call an emergency staff
meeting to rally the troops with lecture on loyalty to follow?
n Does this sound familiar? I advise, take the high ground. Take your time to think it
through. Some times inaction is much better than rash decisions and choices
made in the heat of the moment.
n The leaving stylist will expect you to ask them to leave. They will already have full
client contact information. In most case the key clients are already aware of their
plans. In some case they might be encouraging it and or supporting it. I’m not
saying suck it up I am suggesting it’s how you deal with it and how you move
forward that will define both you and your business. The salon culture moving
forward.
n Believe it or not this could be a huge opportunity to learn and grow and develop a
whole new way forward for you, your team and future employment.
n Take a deep breath, stay focused, think the process through with an honest open
mind. Reflect on your role and contribution to this. We all play a part, we all
contribute to the circumstances leading up to this. Are you big enough?

5. +
Thoughts on a resolution
n Points to think about and understand.
n It’s not personal, it’s business
n Stylists making these choices, it’s not personal.
n In building and developing a team, create opportunity and incentives.
n Do not play the blame game; be professional when dealing with these
situations.
n Keep lines of communication open.
n Learn and grow from the experience.
n Focus on vision and goal for moving forward.
n Do not create ill feeling about those stylists starting their new ventures.
Wish them well
n Keep all doors open.
n You may well gain more respect from clients who may come back

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Respect trust and vision
n As an owner the way to try and avoid these situations is through open
communication. Have what I like to call:
n 'Respect trust and vision'. The communication suggests a sharing of vision!
'RTV'
n Communication, discussion, dialogue, collaboration. honesty.
n Do you respect your staff? Do they respect you? Without respect it can be so
very hard if not impossible to have a salon running smoothly without hitches
or staffing issues.
n How does one gain and retain respect in the work place? First and foremost
it's a two way street; otherwise known as mutual respect. How does it work?
It's earned over time by actions, commitment, sharing of a vision. Making
positive change happen. Being inspirational to those around you. Being a
leader. Being a listener.
n None of this happens over night. It takes time to develop. It can not be
brought and yet it is invaluable. Respect encourages those around you to
listen and or to take action to embrace change.
n Lack of respect can and is very disruptive. It creates many issues especially
in a leadership or management situation. Once lost it's very hard to regain.