Business

The Lessons I’ve Learnt About How to Mentor a Team | Tracey Ann Smith

July 15, 2024

Tracey Ann Smith is the Global Ambassador for haircare brand ASP. Over her 35-year career, she has scooped multiple awards, built two busy salons in Scotland, mentored countless up-and-coming hairdressers and created some of the most iconic photographic collections of the last three decades.

In the first of our new series, we tap into Tracey’s wealth of knowledge to discover the lessons she has learnt about mentoring a team.

The Lessons I've Learnt About How to Mentor a Team | Tracey Ann Smith 1

MY FIRST HARSH LESSON IN BUSINESS…

It was 1996 when I opened my first salon, and honestly, I didn’t have a clue! I was 26 and for the first few years I got by on talent because I was a good hairdresser, but that can only get you so far. As the business grew and my profile grew, it got scary, and I felt completely out of my depth. My team were with me because they loved working with me, but there was going to come a point when they needed more. The stress crept up on me. I had some issues with my accountant and didn’t get the right advice, resulting in a huge VAT bill that I really struggled to pay. It was my fault; I took my eye off the business and, as a result, I thought I would have to close it down. Thankfully, I managed to sort the situation out, but it was a huge wake-up call.

You have to be serious about your business in order for it to grow. I contacted a very respected business coach and began to truly understand how to run a business. He tore the business apart and we rebuilt it together. He worked with me for two years, helping me understand everything from average bills to retail and training. This is how I got to grips with every single element of the business.
Know when it’s time to leave. I loved every minute of growing my salons, but by 2014 (after 18 years!) I knew the time had come for me to sell Angels. I wasn’t in the business as much and I wasn’t the person to keep growing it. By that point, I was also very tired and my life had changed significantly. It was time to go.
Building a team is completely different to building a business. You can have a cart full of apples, but if one is rotting, it’s going to disrupt the rest. Building a great team starts with ensuring those around you have the same vision, but remember, no one will have the same level of passion for your business as you do; don’t assume that everyone shares the same goal.
You can teach skills, but not an attitude. Choose your team carefully. Differences are fine – and it’s good to have a lot of different skills and diversity! – but the core values of the team need to all be going in the same direction. Be consistent – if you are inconsistent, your team will be too. I have learnt that people need clarity; they like to know what is expected of them in order to feel secure

The Lessons I've Learnt About How to Mentor a Team | Tracey Ann Smith 2

The biggest lesson I have learnt about building a team is that you have to be humble; you have to accept that you are just a step on someone else’s career journey. You can’t hold people back and take it personally when they move on. In the early days, I used to get so upset when good staff moved on, but I realised over time that it wasn’t about me and what I could or couldn’t offer them, it was their journey.

I still get messages today from people who were with me in the 90s to say I was the best boss they every had! I am proud of that – I started knowing nothing and I’ve learnt everything to get where I am today.

For related articles, click here