Step Up or Step Off!

By Dwight Hodge

It’s time to act like the boss your barbershop needs. Let’s call it for what it is. There are two types of barbershop owners out there: those who talk about wanting a successful shop and those who actually lead one.

If you’re still stuck behind the chair every hour of every day, still avoiding uncomfortable convos, still playing small - this is your line in the sand. You either step up and take control, or you step off and get out of the way, settling for where you are.

You don’t have to do it all at once. But you do have to own your role as the leader. The standard-setter. The culture-builder. The one steering the ship.

Let’s break it down into three focus areas that’ll move the needle - fast.

1. Attract the Right Clients (Not Just Any Clients)

If your books are full but your bank account’s still stressing you out, you’re not running a business. You’re running a barbershop daycare. Not every client is a good client.

You need people in your chairs who value what you do, show up on time, spend well, rebook, and send their mates. The ones who treat you like a professional, not just someone who gives cheap cuts.

Stepping up here means getting crystal clear on who you actually want to work with. Stop trying to please everyone - you’ll end up burnt out, underpaid, and resenting the people you once loved to serve.

Own your vibe. Show it clearly in your marketing. Speak directly to the kind of client you want. Your people will get it, and the rest can walk on by.

Try This:

Grab your last 50 appointments. Highlight the 5 best clients — based on spend, vibe, and reliability. That’s your new client blueprint. Build your content, offers, and team focus around them.

2. Create a Rhythm That Actually Works

If every week feels like chaos, if your team’s coasting, if you’re reacting instead of leading, that’s not a vibe. Your shops and team are a liability.

Strong shops run on rhythm, clear systems, solid numbers, and weekly check-ins. Predictability doesn’t kill creativity and freedom; it creates it. You need structure to scale.

A daily flow. Targets that actually mean something. Routines that keep you and your team accountable. Otherwise, you’ll keep spinning your wheels, wondering why nothing’s changing.

Stepping up here means running your barbershop like a real business, with intention, ownership, and expectations that are followed up on, not forgotten.

Try This:

Start each week with a 10-minute huddle. No excuses. What’s this week’s target? What’s the focus? Who needs support? A simple Monday check-in can align your whole week and boost performance more than any random pep talk ever could.

3. Lead Like You Mean It

This one’s big. Because your team will only ever reflect what you model. If you’re coasting, they’ll coast. If you avoid the tough chats, so will they. If you don’t lead with clarity and energy, they’ll show up distracted, disinterested, and disengaged.

Leadership isn’t about being the loudest. It’s about being consistent, clear and present. It’s about setting the tone in how you show up, how you communicate and how you call out what matters.

Want your team to raise their game? You’ve got to raise yours first. Stepping up means dropping the “one of the boys” act and becoming the leader your crew needs - even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially then.

Try This:

Ask each team member this week: “What’s one thing I can do better as your leader?”

Then stop talking and listen. Don’t defend. Don’t explain. Just hear them out. You’ll learn something and show them you’re serious about growth.

Final Thoughts

Let’s get real one last time.

You say you want more money. More time. And a team that gives a crap. A business that doesn’t rely on you 24/7.

Cool.

But that starts with you. You stepping up. You getting clear. You doing the uncomfortable work of leading like a boss, not hiding behind busywork.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being present. About showing up with intention and acting on it consistently.

You can build the kind of barbershop that pays well, feels great to run, and gives you real options in life.

Or… you can keep waiting, watching, wishing — while someone else builds it.

So, what’s it going to be?

Step up. Or step off.

Dwight Hodge | Leadership & Business Coach | NLP Master Practitioner | Author dwight@ dwighthodge.com