As a business owner, you may often feel like you have to do it all. And, for a while, maybe you did. But just because you can doesn\u2019t mean you should. The more capable, knowledgeable people you have around you, the more your business can achieve.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where smart leadership comes in. In an industry largely made up of small, independently owned businesses, the term \u201cmanager\u201d can mean very different things depending on the size and structure of the operation. In multi-location salons, there may be a full management hierarchy: general managers, store managers, and assistant managers. In single-location businesses, the owner may wear all those hats, or delegate select duties to trusted shift leaders.<\/p>\n
But increasingly, even smaller operations are realizing the benefits of a more formal management structure where a manager is more than just a reliable shift supervisor. These advanced leaders often take on a salaried role and play a strategic part in growing the business. They understand marketing and branding, keep a pulse on customer experience, engage and coach the team, and think proactively about business goals. These leaders aren\u2019t just managing the business but actually driving it forward.<\/p>\n
Developing this kind of manager doesn\u2019t happen by accident. Many grow into the role by being dependable and efficient, but that doesn\u2019t always come with the higher-level thinking and leadership acumen needed to truly drive business forward. Fortunately, a wealth of affordable and accessible training resources is available to help. Whether you’re developing an emerging leader or strengthening your own owner\/operator capabilities, the tools in this guide can help take your management skills, and your business to the next level.<\/p>\n
At Your Fingertips: Industry-Specific Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n While general leadership and marketing education is essential, nothing beats industry-specific expertise when it comes to building manager confidence and credibility. That\u2019s where Smart Tan\u2019s Master Certification Track shines. This program equips managers and staff with the comprehensive training they need to succeed at every level of the business. Managers who complete this training are more knowledgeable and better equipped to lead, coach, and maintain a culture of excellence across your salon.<\/p>\n The Smart Tan Master Certification track is complete with every major training Smart Tan offers, making it the most complete training track you and your employees will ever take.<\/p>\n The Smart Tan Master Certification Version 2.5 includes the latest UV Tanning Certification , as well as dedicated tracks on spray tanning, sales, customer service, customer communications, and additional leadership-focused tracks.<\/p>\n Today, salon managers and owners don\u2019t have to look far to find additional high-quality, industry-specific education. Many of the industry\u2019s leading product manufacturers have invested heavily in building accessible, flexible, and continually updated training resources. These platforms are designed not only to teach product knowledge but also to strengthen operations, customer service, employee training, and sales strategy.<\/p>\n These online education hubs are packed with webinars, product overviews, leadership training, and practical salon management tips, all available at your convenience. Some manufacturers even provide quizzes, onboarding tools, and customizable content that can be integrated into your team\u2019s training schedule. And while much of the content is self-paced, many brands also offer regular live webinars, recorded trainings, and even personalized sessions upon request.<\/p>\n These industry resources are especially valuable for:<\/p>\n Rather than starting from scratch, salon managers can plug these tools directly into their own training programs, saving time and ensuring that the entire team has access to consistent, expert-backed information.<\/p>\n To maximize impact, we recommend:<\/p>\n Industry brands want salons to succeed. These free or low-cost tools are a reflection of that commitment, and when used intentionally, they can become an indispensable part of your team\u2019s development strategy<\/p>\n Marketing Minded Managers<\/strong><\/p>\n From crafting compelling promotions to creating consistent content on social platforms, your leadership team should be fluent in how to build visibility, grow engagement and attract new customers. Today’s salon leader should know not only what<\/em> to post on Instagram, but why<\/em> it matters, how<\/em> to track its success, and what<\/em> kind of message truly resonates with your customer base.<\/p>\n With the rise of social media, marketing is no longer a behind-the-scenes role. While there\u2019s more to it than making TikToks, many salons are largely abandoning other forms of marketing in favor of focusing on their online presence. On social media today, authenticity is key. If a business owner isn\u2019t in the salon on a daily basis, they simply aren\u2019t in a position to keep up on social media the way it should be done today. So, the manager, and really the whole team, should ideally take the reins.<\/p>\n Online Learning:<\/strong><\/p>\n Digital education is more accessible than ever. Encourage your leaders to work through these online courses, some of which are certification programs that can boost their confidence and your salon’s credibility.<\/p>\n Newsletter Subscriptions:<\/strong><\/p>\n Books to Build on:<\/strong><\/p>\n Each of these books has been chosen for its specific value to salon leaders. Combined, they create a masterclass in messaging, influence, visibility, and communication.<\/p>\n Industry & Wellness Trends<\/strong><\/p>\n To lead effectively, managers must also be tuned into the bigger picture. The industry\u2019s emerging focus on wellness opens the door to a lot more to learn about, along with a lot more to promote and profit from.<\/p>\n Owners and managers should be dialed in on understanding industry developments, scientific research related to services, evolving consumer wellness priorities, and broader cultural shifts that influence how people spend their time and money. This situational awareness allows your managers to make smarter decisions, adapt messaging to what matters most to clients, and help guide your salon toward sustainable innovation.<\/p>\n Resources for Trend Tracking:<\/strong><\/p>\n Encourage your leadership team to take 30 minutes a week to read one article or report, then bring key insights to your next manager meeting. This type of informed thinking leads to better conversations, stronger campaigns, and proactive decision-making.<\/p>\n Coaching Sales Success<\/strong><\/p>\n Sales training is one of the most valuable development paths for salon managers, not only to improve their own ability to sell services and products, but to understand the psychology, process, and techniques behind successful consultative selling. For managers to coach and lead their teams effectively, they must first master these principles themselves.<\/p>\n Here are some excellent resources designed to help salon managers sharpen their sales skills:<\/p>\n By dedicating time to their own sales development, managers can increase their personal effectiveness while also building confidence and clarity in how to train their teams. These resources offer a mix of theory and practice to help managers build their sales coaching toolbox, lead role-plays, and provide productive feedback.<\/p>\n Once a manager is fluent in sales skills, they can transition from seller to coach, empowering every employee to become a confident brand ambassador and problem-solver for clients.<\/p>\n Training the Trainers<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the most important skills of a salon manager is the ability to train and develop their team. The best leaders don\u2019t just execute well themselves; they know how to transfer knowledge, coach consistently, and build a high-performance team around them.<\/p>\n Great training isn\u2019t about repeating policies\u2014it\u2019s about building systems, leading by example, and recognizing how different people learn and grow. As salons expand services and evolve their culture, managers must become confident facilitators, educators, and motivators.<\/p>\n Training Resources for Leadership & Coaching Skills:<\/strong><\/p>\n Books That Build Trainers and Mentors:<\/strong><\/p>\n Strong leadership is magnified when it is multiplied. Training your leaders to train others is a force multiplier for your entire business. It ensures consistency, empowers rising talent, and builds a resilient, capable team that thrives with or without the owner present.<\/p>\n Building an In-House Leadership Track<\/strong><\/p>\n To make the most of the training tools and resources available today, salon owners should establish a structured development track tailored to the leadership goals of their business. Whether your team includes shift leads, assistant managers, or salaried general managers, implementing a clearly defined education path helps ensure that managers grow with your business.<\/p>\n This development program should cover the skills needed to lead people, oversee operations, educate staff, and contribute strategically to salon growth. And if you\u2019re an owner-operator wearing multiple hats, this same track can be applied to elevate your own performance.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a sample five-stage protocol to help guide in-house leadership development:<\/p>\n By layering tactical training with ongoing mentorship, discussion, and self-guided growth, salon managers gain the confidence and clarity they need to make a real impact. Investing in structured, ongoing development ensures your team is always moving forward.<\/p>\n From Manager to Leader<\/strong><\/p>\n Great leadership is about taking ownership and setting the tone for the entire business. With the right mindset and tools, your salon managers can grow into highly strategic contributors who influence everything from day-to-day operations to brand identity and long-term growth.<\/p>\n As salons evolve into hybrid wellness destinations, the demands on management will only increase. Investing in this kind of education creates better thinkers, stronger team cultures, more consistent messaging, and ultimately, better outcomes for your customers.<\/p>\n By investing in smart leadership, you\u2019re building a team that thinks like owners, acts with intention, and leads by example. In today\u2019s industry, that can be one of your most important competitive advantages.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As a business owner, you may often feel like you have to do it all. And, for a while, maybe you did. But just because you can doesn\u2019t mean you should. The more capable, knowledgeable people you have around you, the more your business can achieve. That\u2019s where smart leadership comes in. In an industry […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27220,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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