Stepping Up, Not Stepping Away
By Elle Huempel
One of the most rewarding things to witness as a coach is watching someone step into leadership and truly grow into the role, not just receive the title
Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of supporting a salon through the transition of promoting a long-term trusted team member into a Salon Manager position. What has stood out most throughout this process is how leadership, when developed properly, does not pull someone away from the team, it allows them to step up for the team. In our industry, promotions can sometimes happen based purely on technical ability or loyalty. Someone may be incredible on the salon floor, fully booked, highly respected by clients and naturally become “next in line.” While those qualities absolutely matter, leadership requires an entirely different skillset to simply being busy or talented.
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A Title Alone Does Not Create A Leader. Actions Do.
What I have loved witnessing throughout this journey is creating the understanding that leadership is not about becoming busier. It is about becoming more productive in a way that creates results across the entire team. The role of a Salon Manager is not to carry everyone. It is to guide, support, communicate clearly, create accountability, maintain standards and help the team perform at their highest level consistently.
The strongest leaders on the salon floor are not always the loudest people in the room. They are often the calmest. The most consistent. The ones paying attention to the detail’s others can miss. They create structure within busy days, see every possible opportunity, keep energy stable, support team morale and help maintain the client experience, even under pressure. What I believe is often missing in leadership development is the importance of consistent follow-up. Introducing a new system or expectation within a salon is only the beginning. Whether it is consultation standards, rebooking conversations, retail expectations, communication processes or exceeding the client’s expectations, the real growth happens in what follows after the system is introduced.
Consistency Is Not About Making A Team Feel Checked Up On. It Is About Making A Team Feel Supported.
The best leaders continue the conversation. They check in regularly, provide clear expectations, celebrate progress and help problem solve when challenges arise. Follow-up reminds a team that growth matters and that they are not expected to figure everything out alone.
Leadership should create confidence, not pressure.
I also strongly believe that ongoing growth conversations are essential within healthy salon teams. Teams perform differently when they feel part of something they are building together. Clear goals, regular communication and shared accountability create momentum within a salon culture.
Your Team Should Feel More Supported, Not More Distant.
High performance can also often be misunderstood in our industry. It is not about expecting people to simply do more, work harder or become overwhelmed. High performance comes from consistently doing the right things with the right support and leadership behind you. When teams have structure, clarity, encouragement and consistency, confidence naturally grows. Standards become stronger, communication improves and the salon environment becomes healthier for both the team and the clients within it.
One of the biggest mindset shifts I encourage when developing leadership within salons is understanding that stepping into management does not mean stepping away from the team. It means becoming more available to them in a different way. Watching this Salon Manager continue to grow into the role has been a reminder that leadership in our industry matters enormously. Not because of hierarchy or titles, but because of the positive and infectious impact strong leadership creates throughout an entire salon.
When leadership is nurtured properly, teams feel it. Clients feel it. The business owner feels it. The business grows because of it.
Elle Business Coaching is passionate about mentoring professionals to build confident leaders, stronger teams and sustainable, successful businesses through personalised coaching and industry-driven support. I look forward to working with you!
