womanthismonth.com | JUNE 2025 BEAUTY 88 Let’s talk about something that a lot of salon owners are going through – but no one wants to say out loud. You’ve got a team member who brings in great money. Clients love them. They’re skilled, experienced and on paper, they seem like dream employees. But behind the scenes? It’s a whole different story. Their attitude is negative and disruptive. They complain, talk down about others, create tension and act like your salon can’t survive without them. And maybe you’ve let it slide – because they bring in cash. But here’s the truth: no one person should be allowed to wreck your salon’s vibe, no matter how much money they’re making. When Your Best Team Member Becomes the Biggest Problem Every month, we invite readers to pose their own questions for Badia to answer in her next column. Make sure to ask your own by emailing [email protected] You might – short term. But that’s part of business. Every serious business owner must accept that sometimes you lose money to protect the bigger picture. It’s a wake-up call, not a failure. Letting toxic energy stay will cost you more: good staff will leave, clients will feel it, and your salon culture will collapse. Cutting the poison early is Business 101. No – they’ll feel safer. When your team sees you stepping up, holding everyone to the same standard, they feel protected and respected. Strong leadership builds trust. Silence and avoidance only create fear and confusion. What if I lose money by letting go of a top performer? Won’t my team feel scared if I take strong action? A k Badia Your Monthly Guide to Salon and Spa Success ? One person can’t be bigger than your business. Real talk. No sugarcoating. Being a leader means making tough calls, even when it’s uncomfortable. And this is one of those times. Sit down with them, face to face. Be calm, but firm. Let them know how their behaviour is affecting your salon, your team and your overall vision. Understand why they’ve got to this point but make it clear: this attitude must stop – and it must stop now. After the talk, send them back home for a few days off to reflect. Let them decide whether they come back ready to change, or they walk away. Keep the meeting short and to the point. This is where you show them, you’re serious about running the business without them if needed – and that’s a game change. Focus on business, not personal emotions. No matter what the history, your message needs to be about professionalism and respect. If they stay, check in regularly. Watch how they act. This shows your salon is under strong leadership, and no one is above the rules. The rest of your team will get the message loud and clear: respect and professionalism are non-negotiable. The Consequences of Not Acting If you don’t address the problem now, the consequences will catch up with you – and they won’t be pretty. First, your business will suffer. A toxic environment leads to lower morale, your clients will notice if the atmosphere is off, In turn, they may choose to go elsewhere and your revenue starts to drop. Second, your team will feel the strain. When one person’s bad behaviour goes unchecked, it creates tension and division among the rest. Good team members will start to feel disrespected, frustrated or even demotivated. Eventually, your best staff may leave because they can’t work in that environment, and suddenly you’re dealing with more turnover and recruiting issues. The longer you let it slide, the more damage it does. A toxic person can poison a whole team if left unchecked, and before you know it, the culture you’ve worked so hard to build starts to fall apart. Yes, it’s tough, but that’s what leadership is. You didn’t build your business to be controlled by one person. You built it with vision, passion, and purpose. Protect that. Because in the end, a united, peaceful team will always bring more success than one difficult ‘top performer’ ever could.
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