Your team's been cooped up together all winter. Three people not talking, one being a bitch, one being passive-aggressive. You're hiding in the office. Today: How to actually handle the drama.

In this episode, Phil Jackson tackles the uncomfortable truth - staff drama doesn't resolve itself, it festers. Late February cabin fever is real. Here's how to handle it instead of hiding.

What You'll Learn:

• Why drama ages like milk (longer you leave it, worse it gets)
• Two types of drama (and how to tell which one)
• Four-step process to handle it
• Why your avoidance makes it worse
• When YOU'RE the problem

The Two Types:

Type 1: Legitimate Grievances Badly Expressed

• Real issue: Unfair scheduling, favoritism, broken equipment, lack of training
• Bad expression: Bitching, passive-aggression, attitude
• Fix: Address issue AND coach better communication
• Younger teams especially struggle with face-to-face communication

Type 2: Personality Conflicts & Drama-Seeking

• Just drama: Gossip, cliques, excluding people, undermining
• No legitimate grievance
• Fix: Hard boundaries, consequences, possible exit

About Phil Jackson:Phil Jackson is a salon business coach with 27 years of industry experience and a Creative Head Most Wanted Award. He helps salon owners build profitable businesses without the hustle BS.

Work with Phil:If drama is symptom of deeper problems (unclear expectations, poor systems, lack of leadership):

• 1:1 Ultimate Clarity Coaching: 90-day intensive delivering your 5-year lifestyle-first business plan, 12-month profit & pricing strategy, and 12-month marketing plan
• Book a free consultation: https://tidycal.com/philjackson/1to1-enquiry
• Email: phil@buildyoursalon.com

Take a look at next week's diary. Still seeing gaps? That's hope as a business model. You're hoping clients will rebook, hoping they'll spend enough, hoping March will be better. Today: The opposite of hope. Memberships for predictable income, loyal clients, and better cashflow.

In this episode, Phil Jackson (the "Queen of Memberships") walks you through how to start salon memberships without overwhelming yourself. After 10 years teaching memberships, Phil knows what works.

What You'll Learn:

• Why hope is killing your February
• Memberships vs. subscriptions (and when to use each)
• How memberships create predictable income
• Why membership clients have 95-100% retention
• How to start with ONE service
• Who to target (your 7s and 8s, not your 10s)

The Two Types:

Memberships (Unlimited)

• Pay monthly, unlimited use
• Works for: Hair services, waxing
• Not for: Services with no natural limit

Subscriptions (Defined)

• Pay monthly, specific allocation
• Works for: Beauty, holistic, aesthetics
• Example: £90/month = 1 luxury facial

The Three Benefits:

1. Predictable Income

• 20 members × £50 = £1,000 guaranteed
• Phil's business: Memberships cover ALL fixed costs
• Plan, breathe, sleep easier

2. Loyal Clients

• Retention: 95-100% (vs. 60-70% regular)
• Don't ghost in February
• Committed, organized, not shopping around

3. Stand Out

• Still relatively unusual
• Value, consistency, convenience (not discounting)

How to Start:

Step 1: ONE Service

• Most popular, already profitable, ongoing
• 12-month ideal (6 months works, avoid 3)

Step 2: Target Right Clients

• Your 7s and 8s (not best, not worst)
• Good clients who could be amazing

Step 3: Make Easy

• Direct debits/recurring cards
• Gift options (Black Friday, Mother's Day)

Step 4: Deliver

• Treat as best clients
• Extras, bonuses, special

What NOT to Do:

• Discount club
• Too many tiers
• Services people don't want
• Launch unlimited (sell 10 first)

Did someone just hand in their notice? Or maybe you're stuck with staff who just aren't good enough, but you're too scared to let them go. Good news: good staff exist. You're just fishing in the wrong pond.

In this episode, Phil Jackson breaks down the five-step recruitment process that actually works in 2026. This is Build Your Salon's #1 most-watched topic—updated for portfolio working, flexibility expectations, and where good people actually are.

What You'll Learn:

• The five points where your recruitment process breaks down
• Why "nobody wants to work" means you're looking in wrong places
• Where good staff actually are (not Indeed or Facebook)
• How to make your offer compelling in 2026
• Proper interview process that prevents expensive mistakes
• Why onboarding determines 90% of recruitment success

The Five Steps:

Step 1: Know What You're Looking For

• Written job description before you need it
• Required vs. desired skills, culture fit criteria, deal-breakers
• Desperation hiring = expensive mistakes

Step 2: Fish in the Right Pond

• Good staff are already employed, ready to move for right opportunity
• Where to fish: Instagram, college tutors, industry events, your clients
• Always be recruiting (even when fully staffed)
• Build pipeline: "When you're ready to move, call me"

Step 3: Make Your Offer Compelling

• 2026 staff want: progression path, training, flexibility, low drama, transparency
• Include: Training budget, 4-day week options, success stories
• Good people have options—they're choosing you too

Step 4: Interview Like You Mean It

• Phone screen → interview → practical → trial (paid) → references
• Call references, don't just email
• Real example: "Car crash" hire because no references checked

Step 5: Onboard Properly

• Shadowing, training on YOUR systems, clear expectations
• 12 weeks probation minimum
• Regular feedback (weekly for first month)
• Most failures happen in first 90 days

This Week's Action:Write that job description before you need it.

About Phil Jackson:Phil Jackson is a salon business coach with 27 years of industry experience and a Creative Head Most Wanted Award. He helps salon owners in hair, beauty, and aesthetics build profitable businesses without the hustle BS.

Work with Phil:If recruitment struggles are symptoms of bigger issues (pricing, culture, systems):

• 1:1 Ultimate Clarity Coaching: 90-day intensive delivering your 5-year lifestyle-first business plan, 12-month profit & pricing strategy, and 12-month marketing plan
• Book a free consultation: https://tidycal.com/philjackson/1to1-enquiry
• Email: phil@buildyoursalon.com