Is Your Assistant Slow AF? Let’s Talk Timing, Reps, and Reality

Is Your Assistant Slow AF? Let’s Talk Timing, Reps, and Reality

From Level Up with Lacey by Lacey Gebo

April 20, 2026 · 12 min · Episode 174

About this episode

Lacey Gebo discusses the challenges of training assistants and how to improve their speed and skills effectively.

This one might hit a nerve… but we’re saying it anyway. Assistants are SLOW in the beginning. That’s normal. That’s expected. That’s part of the process. But here’s where things start to go sideways…They stay slow—and you start getting frustrated—without ever giving them a clear target to work toward. In this episode, I’m breaking down the difference between normal beginner slowness and a full-blown training gap… and what you need to fix ASAP if you want your assistants to actually improve. We’re talking about: Why “pick up the pace” is NOT real direction (and what to say instead) The exact moment you should start focusing on speed in your training program How reps + timing + pressure = confidence (and faster assistants) The biggest mistake salon owners make when it comes to assistant growth My simple system to build speed without sacrificing skill Because here’s the truth… Speed is a skill. And skills are built with reps and clear expectations. If you don’t have timing standards, structure, or urgency built into your training… you don’t have a “slow assistant” problem— You have a system problem. And we’re fixing that today. Grab the tools I mentioned: Timing Goals Sheet…

People in this episode

Host: Lacey Gebo

Topics covered

  • assistant training
  • speed improvement
  • business growth
  • expectations
  • skill development

Keywords

  • assistant training
  • speed
  • business
  • expectations
  • skill development
  • timing
  • reps

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