Educating your salon team on a budget

Educating your team doesn't have to involve sending your staff on costly courses across the country; there's much more to training than going back to the classroom.

While there are plenty of first class academies that offer an array of courses created to maximise your business, there are also some savvy moves you can make to ensure your team are motivated, inspired and constantly learning - and it doesn't have to cost the earth.

Create a library of books and DVDs

There are plenty of books for hairdressers that are packed with tips and techniques for developing your skills, and many of the leading educators have DVDs too. 

For books and DVDs covering purely professional hairdressing, Habia's website includes a shop that features a great selection of reading and visual material.

You'll find a comprehensive selection of books and DVD titles from industry leaders such as Sassoon Academy, Patrick Cameron, Mahogany, Saks, Beverly C and Alan D.

Topics including colour, dressing hair, barbering, cutting and the latest techniques are all covered in easy-to-understand videos that you can refer back to whenever you want.

While reading a book or watching a DVD may not have the same impact as attending a course at a leading training academy, the benefits are that it comes at a fraction of the price, you can train at your leisure and create your own in-house training sessions based on the content. 

Don't forget the business minds

As well as brushing up on creative skills, don't forget about the team members whose responsibilities are more business focussed. 

Industry experts whose business books have become invaluable for many salons include Alan Austin-Smith's 'The Fantastic' series, which offers easy to read advice for salon owners, managers and stylists on how to be - well, fantastic!

International business speaker Antony Whitaker has recently launched Grow My Salon Business; a business book which is based on one of his motivational seminars and is specifically designed to integrate into team meetings.  

Think outside the box

Don't just include professional hairdressing books in your education action plan; there are plenty of motivational 'bibles' that many salon owners speak highly of.

Motivational speakers and self-help gurus are brilliant for getting your team to look at the bigger picture and learn new skills that are invaluable when working with the public.

Life coaches Tony Robbins and Pete Cohen have become firm favourites within the hairdressing community and their seminars receive rave reviews.

In addition, entrepreneurs such as Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Dragons' Den Dragon Duncan Bannatyne all have an impressive list of books that are written to inspire.

Ask an expert

Inviting an industry icon to the salon to educate your entire team will work wonders for team morale.

Closing the salon for a day and having an expert share their knowledge is a great way of involving everyone and while it's not always the cheapest fix, it most definitely gives the message that you're serious about investing in your team. 

Why not speak to your product manufacturer about ambassadors for the brand who might be willing to give up their time?  

Escape from the salon environment

Training doesn't have to be conventional - there's a lot to be said for team-building, raising morale and generally having a good time with your colleagues.

Taking your team away from their usual environment will work wonders for getting their minds thinking in a different way.

There are plenty of specialist companies who can create a team building day for you - or if you're on a budget - why not create your own?

You could always divide the team into groups and create your own treasure hunt in the local town, or embark in some go-carting, horse riding or even bowling - anything that will get your team working together.

Another popular alternative training method that works wonders with many salons is to actually show your team what you mean by high, and low, standards.

It might sound obvious, but actually talking your team to a hotel, restaurant or shop that offers service that you consider to be excellent will be the perfect demonstration of what you expect.

Likewise, unless you show them what's not acceptable and an example of standards that you consider to be low, then how will they ever know your true expectations?

So while lunch at a local bistro that's gained a reputation for being terrible, or cocktails in a bar that offers five-star service might not sound particularly beneficial, it might be just what you need to motivate your team into raising their standards for 2013.