Team spirit 2012: creating a successful artistic team
Published
28th Jul 2012
by rachael
With the world's eyes on Great Britain this year for the Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics, one thing is evident about the great British public: we are a nation that loves working, playing and socialising together.
Team work certainly makes the world go round and here we celebrate team spirit - from the teams that make businesses a success to the creative teams that constantly push the boundaries. And when it comes to the session world, nothing is more important than being able to work alongside other hairdressers.
Team spirit isn't confined to the world of sport, as we discovered when talking to a host of dedicated, exciting, committed hairdressing teams. In this feature, we talk to three successful artistic teams about the importance of the right people, working together and what makes a successful creative team.
Akin Konizi leads HOB Salons - HJ's current Artistic Team of the Year
HJ: What do you look for when recruiting people into the artistic team?
AK: I look for confidence and creativity, but above all, people that want to progress and learn. They should have leadership qualities, with some stage presence and presentation skills.
HJ: What attributes do they need to possess?
AK: They must have natural hairdressing skills and stage presence. They need to be passionate about the brand and hairdressing and exude artistic vision and creative flair.
HJ: What makes a successful creative team?
AK: It can be a collection of diverse people, who can have different backgrounds, experiences and qualities, but share this with each other to create a united and ground-breaking team.
The Hooker & Young artistic team is directed by Gary Hooker and Michael Young
HJ: What attributes do they need to possess?
GH: They need to want to push forward, develop new techniques and pass these on to the entire team. They must love educating others and being part of the brand's growth.
HJ: What makes a successful creative team?
GH: Achieving the right balance of technical skills and personalities is key. There must be an even spread of talent and characteristics, but all working to the same end goal.
HJ: How important is it for hairdressers to work as part of a team?
GH: Working as a team is a huge part of being a successful hairdresser. Hairdressers are
social characters and thrive on interaction and communication. You can train someone to cut the perfect bob, but you can't necessarily teach them to be a team player - this has to come
from within.
Stell Andrew is international creative director of Rush Hair
HJ: What do you look for when recruiting people into the creative team?
SA: Technical excellence goes without saying, but there needs to be more. Commitment to the team, a fresh vision, and a great eye for detail. These are the extras that make a brilliant hairdresser special.
HJ: What attributes do they need to possess?
SA: With a successful team there needs to a split of characters and personalities. Creatively, they need to be at the top of their game. There is no room for egos in a team.
HJ: What makes a successful creative team?
SA: To build and keep a successful team you need the best of the best. The best cutter, the best colourist, the best at editorial, the best finisher, and the best at avant garde. Creating this appreciation means no-one can afford to underperform otherwise they let the team and themselves down.
