How to Deal with Challenging Employees

About this episode

This episode discusses how to effectively manage challenging employees in a salon setting.

Because let’s be honest… Every salon owner has one. Had one. Or is currently avoiding one. 👀 If you’ve ever had a team member who: – Doesn’t listen – Pushes back on feedback – Skips meetings – Gossips – Drains your energy – Is wildly talented but slightly (or very) toxic This episode is for you. When you first open a salon, you think leadership is: - Hiring cool people - Training your team - Celebrating wins - Posting team photos And then reality hits. Leadership is actually: – Hard conversations – Clear boundaries – Documentation – Emotional regulation – Being okay with not being liked – And holding it together when you low-key want to scream. In this episode, I break down the 3 REAL reasons someone feels “challenging”: Lack of Clarity – No standards. No systems. No follow-through. Skill Deficiency – They were never trained properly. Character Issue – Gossip. Negativity. Entitlement. Misalignment. And then I walk you through my 5-Step Framework for handling difficult team members with confidence (and without blowing up your culture): Regulate yourself first (24-hour rule, always) Document patterns — not emotions Have a direct, face-to-face conversation Create a measurable…

People in this episode

Host: Lacey Gebo

Topics covered

• leadership
• employee management
• salon ownership
• team dynamics
• conflict resolution

Keywords

• challenging employees
• leadership
• team management
• emotional regulation
• conflict resolution

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• How to Market a Brand-New Stylist Without Losing Clients Trust · May 11, 2026 · 20 min
• Is Your Assistant Slow AF? Let’s Talk Timing, Reps, and Reality · April 20, 2026 · 12 min
• The 3 Things I’d Focus on If I Had to Rebuild My Salon Today · April 13, 2026 · 15 min