Growing a successful salon business is a challenge, and that’s putting it lightly. But no one ever said you had to do it all by yourself! It is so important to have a mentor in your life for both personal and professional reasons. A great mentor provides support, encouragement, advice, and will help you push past your fears. Having a mentor in your corner will help you take your salon business to the next level.

So, what should you look for in a mentor? Great question. At Meet Your Stylist, we’re big fans of the podcast Beyond The Technique. This podcast is dedicated to empowering salon owners and inspiring hairstylists to live their best lives. Beyond The Technique covers everything from salon business marketing to new beauty industry trends.

Anyways, there is an episode dedicated to the five traits that make a great mentor. Here are those five traits:

1) A great mentor is tangible.

You want to find a mentor that is accessible. Someone who will return calls and take time on a regular basis (if need be) to grab a cup a coffee.

2) A great mentor has a professional brand and technique you identify with.

Look for a mentor that has a career path you would like to follow. Maybe this person is an industry expert in hair color, curly hair cutting, or identifies with a certain brand, such as Wella.

3) A great mentor shares your core values.

Find a mentor that shares your core values in life, both personally and professionally. This will help you connect and get the most out of your relationship.

4) A great mentor seeks continuous growth.

A major reason to have a mentor is to have someone in your corner, always encouraging you to grow.

So, it’s important to find someone who is always trying to improve themselves—right alongside of you! You want someone who is never done learning and never done growing because that drive and energy will rub off on you.

5) A great mentor shows and receives respect.

This one is important! You want a mentor that gives respect—not only to you, but to others as well. A great mentor shows respect for hairstylists and salon owners who are just beginning their careers as well as the seasoned pros. Finally, your mentor should have earned respect from other industry leaders.

To learn more about what makes a great mentor, check out podcast episode 109. And if you would like more salon marketing tips, join our private Facebook group or follow us on Facebook and Instagram!