MOOD’s Tracey Ann Smith shares her best advice for mentoring a team…
Team mentoring is a skill that can be developed over time, though there are some practises that can be put into place to encourage a positive working dynamic. Tracey Ann Smith, Creative Director for MOOD, has a breadth of knowledge and experience within the industry. She is passionate to pass on her skills to others and build a strong team of hard-working and dedicated hairstylists. As a mentor and leader of the MOOD Lifestyle Artistic Team, Tracey shares her best advice for those stepping into a mentoring role.
We had applicants submit a short video sharing some information on their background and their reason for wanting to join the team. This sets a great foundation as it gives them an opportunity to shout about their achievements and express their passion for wanting to join the team. We can use this as an opportunity to really get to know them, asses their strengths and learn about the goals they aim to achieve within the team. It also gives them a real sense of achievement when they are then selected.
When leading a team, it’s important to be mindful that you will be working with a mix of personalities that may have different needs and expectations. For instance, some will have different communication and learning styles. We aim to provide valuable training that will be suitable for all team members and are open to catering to different requirements.
To make sure everyone feels supported and included, communication needs to be strong, with everyone’s voice being heard. We are open to receiving feedback from all team members and listening to any suggestions on how to improve processes.
Team mentoring can be successful when you allow everyone to play to their strengths and make sure they feel supported and valued. This will build a strong team and encourage all to come together to support one another.