Sorry for the delay but Just as promised here you go,
This is the biggest mishap that plagues this era of the barber industry! These new barbers can be so talented; however, they KNOW EVERYTHING, leaving no room for growth. Coaching and mentoring have moments where the reward is greater than the pay. When you watch an individual grow from struggling to gaining confidence and an understanding of the work at hand. It really puts everything I do as an instructor into focus. Daily improvement takes hard work and dedication. When you come across an individual who feels they don’t need any help to improve, you begin to wonder what is it that they know that I don’t. With that being said let’s get right into part one I offer you the common mistakes new barbers make.
Being “The uncoachable barber”
New Barbers Ignore Coaching
This isn’t every new barber because I’ve come across some awesome individuals who viewed the barber trade as a craft and held it in the utmost respect. I truly enjoy coaching these types and wish everyone would treat the craft with this energy for learning.
Then you have the not-so-awesome individuals that are hard to coach. This group I tend to love just the same if not a little more. They teach me a lot about myself and at times allow me to flex my skills on them, leaving them with just an ounce of pride.
It’s almost like they didn’t sign up for school to be taught. Don’t let it be someone who’s been cutting for a while and has a little experience with the clippers. It’s almost like learning anything new will cause them to lose a close loved one. And again, this doesn’t apply to every individuals , but a handful are guilty. The question remains How coachable are you?
Barber school covers the basics by preparing you for state examination. Working in an actual shop is a total new experience. You can master the craft earlier than planned with the basic skills you possess In your tool box. Shops can be fast paced and will show you advanced techniques but if you don’t have the basics down you will be lost. That’s where learning from others really matters. I see new barbers get defensive or frustrated when being coached, often breaking up lessons with things like “I wasn’t taught that” or “That’s not how I learned.” And my all time favorite “I was just about to do that” meanwhile I’ve been watching you for the past twenty minutes or so repeating the same step and getting no results. This slows down your growth because if you’re always explaining why you can’t do something, you aren’t leaving much space to pick up new skills or advice on how to do better. If you don’t need coaching then why are you in school? There are Tips for becoming more coachable that will put your barber career on track to new found success. Bad habits can be broken.
The best barber students I know are more focused when being schooled. They don’t refuse any task, assignments, or instructions given. They keep checking in with others, asking senior staff how they’d handle tough cuts, and practicing new techniques outside of work hours. Being open to feedback lets you get better, faster. Plus, it keeps you from repeating small mistakes that might have an easy fix if you had just asked, or listen. Don’t ask if you aren’t willing to listen. The tip of the iceberg is what took down the titanic and This topic can go on and on so I will leave you with just the tip of the iceberg In hopes it will take down that massive new Barber ego that keeps you from making this costly mistake.
Up next:
Common mistakes new barbers make Pt.2
Managing money as a new barber
