Reviving Soft Skills in the Beauty Industry: A Call to Action for Salon Owners

In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, where artificial intelligence and automation are rapidly evolving, the emphasis on hard skills often overshadows the importance of soft skills. This trend poses a significant challenge for salon owners in hiring, managing, and developing talent. As we navigate this landscape, it’s crucial to recognize that while technical skills in beauty and grooming can’t be easily replaced by AI, the decline of soft skills—such as emotional intelligence, effective communication, and listening—can undermine the success of any business, particularly in the beauty industry.

 The Decline of Soft Skills and What We Can Do…

In recent years, there has been a notable decline in soft skills among job candidates entering the workforce. These skills, which encompass emotional intelligence, communication, and interpersonal abilities, are essential for creating a positive workplace culture and fostering strong relationships with clients and colleagues. Unfortunately, many new hires struggle with these competencies, making it increasingly difficult for salon owners to build cohesive teams.  Let’s dive deeper into what soft skills are considered and why they are declining.

According to the training industry, soft skills encompass communications, work ethic, leadership ability, flexibility, working with or on a team, and interpersonal skills. Soft skills are abilities that may not be a primary focus of the job duties at hand but can be beneficial, and a lack of soft skills is detrimental to the way people operate in the workplace.

Managing time and solving problems are two very important soft skills in our industry. They are not only necessary for basic life functions to make our lives easier, but they also make us adaptable to improve our jobs and our lives.

In today’s workforce, employers are interested in hiring these soft skills over technical skills, but this area seems to be in decline.  

What is the potential reason why? iCIMS data from 2018 say authority figures are part of the blame. Teachers, colleges, and parental figures need to work harder to teach students and children better soft skills. College graduates do not practice adaptability, problem-solving, creativity, influence, drive, empathy, and collaboration. 

64% of employers felt it was very or somewhat difficult to find qualified applicants who had critical thinking abilities, 54% said finding people with communication skills was just as hard, and 55% said that it was difficult to find people with interpersonal skills and the same amount said it was difficult to find people with the ability to listen. (2018 Cengage/Morning Consult Survey) Interpersonal skills are the abilities that help people communicate and interact with others.  This is incredibly important in our salon business.

So, what is the Emotional Impact on Salon Owners

For salon owners, the ability to effectively manage and grow a team hinges on the emotional intelligence of their employees. Emotional intelligence, defined as the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions while empathizing with others, is critical for creating a harmonious work environment. When team members lack this skill, conflicts can arise, leading to a toxic atmosphere affecting staff morale and client satisfaction.

 Moreover, salon owners often find themselves wearing multiple hats—manager, mentor, and motivator. A team devoid of emotional intelligence can create added stress for owners, who must spend more time mediating disputes rather than focusing on growth and innovation. The outcome? A stagnation in business development and a decline in employee engagement.

 Error on the side of Communicating and the importance of effective communication is vital. Still, if we fear having that difficult conversation because an employee may leave, we need to think through how we communicate.

Are you being overly direct and to the point? Maybe you are too soft and friendly but not effective. Are you allowing your team to have a voice or coaching them on solving problems with you instead of just banking on policy to be your armor?

Effective communication is another cornerstone of successful teamwork in salons. The ability to convey information clearly and constructively can make all the difference in providing exceptional customer service and fostering a collaborative work environment. Unfortunately, many employees today struggle with communication skills, leading to client misunderstandings and dissatisfaction.

In the beauty industry, where client relationships are paramount, the consequences of poor communication can be dire. A stylist who cannot effectively listen to a client’s needs or articulate their ideas is unlikely to build a loyal customer base. This impacts individual careers and jeopardizes the salon’s reputation and bottom line.

 The Role of Listening Skills is declining because we are not interacting as much with humans in real life.  We text, email, and engage social media to voice our opinions, problems, and more. Still, we are not in face-to-face dialogue, and it is easy to see why, with diminished soft skills, we have lost the ability to converse, negotiate, and, frankly, coexist peacefully.

Listening skills are often overlooked but are vital in any professional setting. In a salon, active listening allows stylists to understand client preferences and concerns thoroughly. This enhances the client experience and empowers employees to feel valued and understood. When staff members excel at listening, they are more likely to contribute positively to team dynamics and customer satisfaction.

 How do we bring back the irreplaceable value of Soft Skills?

While technical skills in the beauty industry—like hairdressing, makeup application, and nail artistry—are essential, they can be complemented by soft skills. AI may be making strides in automating certain tasks, but the human touch in the beauty business is irreplaceable. Clients seek not just a service but an experience, and that experience is deeply rooted in interaction and connection.

As salon owners, it’s crucial to prioritize the development of soft skills within your team. Investing in emotional intelligence training, communication workshops, and active listening exercises can create a more cohesive and engaged workforce. This, in turn, leads to higher employee retention rates, improved client relationships, and, ultimately, business growth.

 Building a Culture of Growth is available, and the good news is that all these skills are teachable and can have a very positive impact on your culture.

At SOS Leadership Coaching and Academy, we understand the challenges salon owners face in today’s landscape. Our coaching, training, and certification programs are designed to equip salon owners and their teams with the tools they need to thrive. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, we can help you cultivate soft skills that will benefit your business, community, and relationships.

 If you think the decline of soft skills in the workplace is a pressing concern that salon owners cannot afford to ignore, please reach out and find out how we can prioritize emotional intelligence, effective communication, and listening skills and create a thriving salon environment where both employees and clients feel valued and understood.

I understand the importance and investment in technical and trend skills, but now more than ever, we must embrace the power of soft skills to ensure your salon not only survives but thrives in an ever-evolving landscape. Partner with SOS Leadership Coaching and Academy to take the first step towards elevating your business and empowering your team. Check it out here…