Blog Spot with Brodie Lee Tsiknaris

The Answer to the Senior Shortage... TYO (Train Your Own)

In today’s fast-paced and constantly evolving salon world, I believe training our own has become more important than ever. So many are so focused on the problem of the great senior shortage rather than focusing on the solution which is training our own and getting them on the floor!

One of the most significant benefits of training our own is the culture and skills you can empower your team with, our guests love seeing and supporting our apprentices coming through. Yes, it takes effort and hard work but so does everything in business.

It’s like you have to plan for someone to leave and you constantly need a pool of growing talent that you can put on the floor when you need too. I truly believe in business you always need to need to have a plan B.

When an apprentice receives a structured training program in a salon, they become well-equipped to step up when required with greater confidence and accuracy whilst already having built relationships with salon guests and other team members.

From the minute you sign up an apprentice, setting the boundaries and the expectations in a focused and structured environment, you show your commitment to their growth and investing time in them and then very quickly you will see if they are passionate.

I believe their appreciation for this will show in other areas by giving it their all, this gives a chance to really see early on and coach up or coach out remembering that not everything comes easily and not one person in this world is perfect so patience is key and being in tune with different learning styles and attributes will help you here.

By providing your employees with a clear path for growth and development, training creates a sense of purpose and direction. This, in turn, leads to greater job satisfaction, which in turn strengthens their loyalty and motivation and have a positive impact on employee retention rates.

Not sure where to start?

• Reach out to someone who offers education or can help you create a clear pathway on how to get them on the floor.

• Talk to your RTO, work alongside their training plan in your salon training.

• Schedule weekly salon education.

Don’t have time or feel confident?

• Outsource to a course or invest in an educator.

Our industry is so lucky to have an abundance of educators offline and online that are able to help!

In conclusion, my advice … employ more apprentices, it will bring many benefits to your salon if you are strategic by developing brand specific skills, preparing for future success, and adding more value to employees.

Whether it is in terms of securing the next generation of your team, retaining employees, or developing future leaders, apprenticeships represent a valuable investment in the future of any business.