PODCAST · arts
The Shift
by Michelle Tanner
The Shift is for salon owners who refuse to lead the old way. It’s real talk about leadership, culture, and growth with practical strategies that actually work in the real world of salon ownership.
Episodes
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#87- Permission to Change Your Mind: Why I'm Reassessing Everything
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is give yourself permission to change your mind. In this episode, I’m sharing what I’m reassessing in my business, why some things no longer feel aligned, and how I’m learning to let go of what once worked to make space for what’s next.
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#86- How I Decide Pricing: And When It's Time to Charge More
In this episode, I share how I review my service menu, why I stopped pricing based purely on time, and the simple signs I look for before increasing a stylist's prices. If you've ever wondered whether you're undercharging, overcomplicating your pricing, or promoting stylists too early, this…
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#85- Can You Afford to Grow?: A Question Every Salon Owner Should Ask
The bigger the business decision, the less room there is for guessing. In this episode, I'm sharing the numbers that gave me the confidence to invest, grow, and plan for what's next. Want to stop guessing and see exactly what's driving performance in your salon? Check out the Stylist Performance...
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#84- The Business Outgrew the Plan: What Happens Next
What happens when your business outgrows the original plan? In this episode, I’m sharing a renovation project that’s about much more than wash basins. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle_tanner_consult/ Website: https://michelletannerconsulting.com/
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#83- The Organised Salon: What Nobody Sees
Every new team member helps us improve our business. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how we refine our systems, onboarding and team experience with every new hire. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle_tanner_consult/ Website: https://michelletannerconsulting.com/
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#82- Untapped Potential: My Second Salon Update
This time last year, my second salon had potential… but not momentum. At the start of this year, I decided to stop waiting for it to “take off” by itself and finally go all in. Six months later, everything feels different. In this episode, I’m sharing what changed when I stopped hoping and…
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#81- Busy Isn’t the Same as Valuable: And This Is Why
If you’ve ever felt the need to prove you’re still “busy” when you’re not behind the chair, you’re not alone. I used to do this all the time. In this episode, I share how stepping away from visible work messed with my sense of value, and why learning to stop explaining myself changed everything....
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#80- The Secret to Getting Off the Chair: What No One Shows You
In this episode, I share what I built after years of guessing, and how it finally showed me what my business could really handle… with or without me. Get the Get Off the Chair Formula: http://michelletannerconsulting.com/get-off-the-chair-formula
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#79- Things I Don’t Do in My Salon Anymore: And Why I
In this episode, I share the things I don’t do in my salon anymore, what I let go of, and why removing emotion, control, and pressure changed everything for me and my team. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle_tanner_consult/ Website: https://michelletannerconsulting.com/
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#78- You’re Giving It Away for Free: The Hidden Cost in Your Appointments
If your team are stretching appointments, using more colour, and not charging for it, you’re not alone. I used to see this in my salon all the time. In this episode, I share how we track extra time and extra colour, what I expect from my team now, and how this simple system increased cash,...
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#77- Client Redos: Why Your Team Gets Defensive
If your team gets defensive when a client comes back unhappy, you’re not alone. I used to have the same thing in my salon. In this episode, I share how I changed the way we handle client corrections, what I expect from my team now, and why it’s no longer a big deal in my salon. Instagram:...
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#76- If You Need A Non-Compete: You’ve Got A Bigger Problem
I’ve seen enough of these contracts in our industry now… non-competes, restrictions on where stylists can work, even rules around social media. And every time, it just doesn’t sit right with me. In this episode, I talk about why I think this approach is wrong, what it actually creates inside a...
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#75- Stop Guessing Who Your Best Stylist Is: Here’s How I Know
Most salon owners think they know who their best stylist is… but actually have no idea. If you’re going off who you like most or who seems the busiest, you’re probably getting it wrong. In this episode, I share exactly how I know who my best performing team members are and what I look at instead....
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#74- Why No Good Stylists Are Applying: And What To Do About It
If you feel like no good stylists are applying to your salon, you’re not alone. But it’s probably not a hiring problem. It’s an attraction problem. In this episode, I break down why the stylists you actually want aren’t applying, what most salon owners are getting wrong, and how I’ve shifted my...
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#73- When You Tell Everyone, You Tell No One: How To Get Your Team To Follow Through
When I told my team to start using our exciting new colours… nothing happened. And I mean nothing. And it made me realise I had forgotten one of the most important rules when it comes to leading a team. In this episode, I break down why telling everyone to do something doesn’t work, what I…
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#72- I Thought I Could Do It All: Turns Out I Can't
I went to Australia thinking I’d have more time. Instead, I filled my days with big projects, clients, family, friends, and work… and told myself I was handling it all really well. Until it caught up with me. In this episode, I share what that moment looked like, what it made me realise about my...
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#71- I’m Changing How I Train My Team: From Forced Training to Chosen Growth
For years I trained my team in a very structured way. Locked training days. Everyone learning together. But lately I realised something. As my team grows and changes, the way I train them has to change too. In this episode, I share why I’m rethinking training in my salons and the new approach I’m...
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#70- My Team Won’t Try New Things: The Moment I Realised Why
Lately I noticed something interesting in my salons. The work was beautiful, clients were happy, but creativity had quietly become safe. The same toners, the same formulas, the same predictable results. In this episode, I share the moment I realised why this was happening and the leadership shift...
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#69- Impressive Isn’t Profitable: A Salon Reality
Adding services, or expanding, or starting new projects can feel like growth. But sometimes it’s just ego. In this episode, I share what I’ve learned about profitability, control, and why expanding into areas outside your strengths can cost more energy than it’s worth. If you’re reviewing your…
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#68- When Your Top Stylist Leaves: Here’s What To Do
When your top stylist leaves, it can feel like the ground shifts under you. In this episode, I walk you through exactly what I did when our longest and strongest stylist left, how we protected client retention, stabilised the team, and avoided panic. If you ever find yourself facing a big exit,...
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#67- Freedom Isn’t Free: The Weight of Payroll
Getting off the chair is often seen as the ultimate goal. But what happens when your income still depends on other people turning up, staying healthy, and performing? In this episode, I share a real-time moment from inside my salons that forced me to confront the true weight of payroll, the risk…
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#66- The Second Salon: Where I Realised I Was Coasting
Opening a second salon is exciting. But what happens when it’s running fine… but you realise you’ve been holding back? In this episode, I share what it looked like for me to build a second location without the same pressure as the first, how I slowly slipped into comfort, and why this year I’m...
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#65- This One Hurt More Than Most: A Hiring Story
I often talk about my hiring process and how it’s helped me build strong, stable teams over the years. But sometimes, even with the right intentions and a solid process, things still don’t go the way you expect. In this episode, I share a very real story from inside my salons that challenged me,...
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#64- The Truth About Getting Off the Chair: What Actually Has to Change
Getting off the chair is sold as the dream, but the reality is rarely that simple. In this episode, I share what it was actually like when I stepped away, the mistakes I made, and why freedom only works when the right systems, numbers, and team are in place. If you’re aiming to lead your salon...
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#63- Is Your Business Sinking Or Swimming: The Honest Check-In
Be honest. Do you actually know the health of your business, or are you just guessing based on your bank balance and how busy you feel? In this episode, I’m talking about the blind spots salon owners live in for years, why being busy tells you very little. I’ll also share how you can get free...
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#62- Your Team Isn’t Stepping Up: Because You’re Still Carrying Everything
For a long time, I believed holding everything together was just part of being a good salon owner. In this episode, I’m sharing what it really took for me to start letting go, the lessons I learned along the way, and why what we call “freedom” often isn’t freedom at all. If you’re tired, carrying...
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#61- My Team Got Complaints: Why I Didn’t Panic
My team didn’t land well outside our salon, and as the owner, that feedback landed on me. In this episode, I’m unpacking it in real time. How I handle feedback while I’m still in the middle of it, how I support my team without dismissing the impact, and why how your team behaves in the wider...
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#60- What I’m Leaving Behind: The Lessons I’m Keeping
This year didn’t look how I thought it would. It felt messy, unfinished, emotional, and heavy at times. In this episode, I’m reflecting on the expectations, habits, and versions of myself I’m leaving behind, and what this year actually taught me as a leader, a business owner, and a human. If…
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#59- Why So Many Salon Owners Are Giving Up: And Why I’m Not
So many salon owners are quietly questioning if this is all worth it anymore. The burnout, the disconnect with their team, the feeling that the industry has changed and left them behind. In this episode, I share my honest take on why so many owners are giving up, what’s actually going wrong…
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#58- Breaking the Mean Girl Cycle: How I Stopped the Quiet Divide
Clicks, cold shoulders, and quiet divides can destroy a salon faster than any bad hire. In this episode, I’m sharing how I broke the subtle “ice-out” culture that used to run through my team and rebuilt a space where people genuinely support each other. This episode shares exactly how I turned a...
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#57- What My Team Gets Now: And Why I Never Did
The salon world has changed, and so have the rules. In this episode, I’m sharing the old habits, expectations, and unspoken norms I grew up with in this industry that I would never allow in my salons today, plus the things that were once forbidden that now make everything run better. If you want…
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#56- From Rock Bottom to Reinvention: The Story I’ve Never Told
This is the story I have never told. The one that cracked my entire life open and pushed me into the country, the career, and the future I was meant for. In this episode, I’m sharing the heartbreak that brought me to Switzerland, how I rebuilt myself from the ground up, and why I don’t regret a...
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#55- Training a Stylist: Why It Always Feels Hard Before It Gets Good
Training a brand new stylist will test your patience, your confidence, and your leadership more than almost anything else in the salon. In this episode, I’m sharing what the first weeks really look like, why every new stylist hits an emotional dip, and how to guide them through it without burning...
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#54- The Feedback Fix: What Most Salon Owners Are Getting Wrong
Most salon owners only ask for feedback when something goes wrong. But what if feedback was your biggest growth tool? In this episode, I’m sharing how I use feedback forms to make better hiring decisions, improve my training systems, and keep my team engaged and accountable. You’ll see exactly…
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#53- When Stylists Won’t Build Clients: How I Took Back the Power
I used to get frustrated that my team wasn’t out there hustling for clients the way I did. But the truth is, times have changed. In this episode, I’m sharing how I stopped fighting it, built a brand that attracts clients for my team, and why it’s one of the smartest business moves I’ve ever made....
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#52- The Hardest Year Yet: And Why I’d Do It All Again
It’s been the hardest and most rewarding year of my career, from launching my first course, coaching my first students, running two salons, and showing up here every single week. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what this year has really looked like behind the scenes..the highs…
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#51- The One Thing: What Really Keeps My Team Motivated
There’s one thing that completely changed how I lead my team and it’s not money, bonuses, or meetings. It’s how I recognise them. In this episode, I’m sharing my secret to building motivated, loyal stylists through positive reinforcement, why it works, and how you can start using it in your salon...
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#50- The Shiny Thing Trap: How I Avoid Costly Business Mistakes Now
I’ve made some big decisions in my business that looked exciting at the time but ended up costing me growth, money, and peace. In this episode, I’m sharing how I learned to slow down, plan smarter, and make decisions based on strategy instead of emotion. If you’ve ever said yes to something shiny...
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#49- The Interview Mistake: Why One Chat Isn’t Enough
I used to hire from emotion and fear, saying yes too quickly and hoping it would work out. But those decisions cost me time, money, and peace. In this episode, I’m sharing exactly how I slowed down my hiring process, the trial steps I use before saying yes, and how I decide in the first three...
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#48- Assistant Programs: What Finally Made It Work in My Salon
Struggling to get assistants engaged, motivated, and actually adding value to your salon? You’re not alone. Training the younger generation comes with new challenges, but it doesn’t have to feel impossible. In this episode, I’m sharing what’s working right now in my own program and how you can...
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#47- The Silent Killers: What’s Quietly Destroying Your Salon Culture
If your culture feels a little “off” but you can’t put your finger on why, chances are it’s not the big blow-ups...it’s the small things. In this episode, I’m sharing the quiet culture killers that creep in under the radar and slowly cost you trust, loyalty, and joy. Instagram:...
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#46- Trapped by the Dream: Why So Many Stylists Regret Owning a Salon
So many stylists chase the dream of opening a salon, only to feel trapped once they get there. Nobody tells you about the burnout, the pressure, and the fact that success doesn’t have to mean ownership. In this episode, I’m sharing the truth about why so many owners secretly regret the path they...
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#45- My First One-Star Review : The Client Who Wanted to Teach Me a Lesson
Getting a one star review is never easy. When it happened to us, I felt sick to my stomach. But this experience turned out to be one of the most powerful lessons I’ve ever had about leadership, boundaries, and protecting your team. In this episode, I’m sharing the full story of how we handled it,...
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#44- Chair Rentals vs. Commission Salons: Why I Think a Change Is Coming
Salon owner and not sure which model is best? Stylist wondering if chair rental, suites, or commission is the way to go? In this episode I’m breaking down the trends I see happening right now, what’s working, what’s not, and my straight-talking take on where I think the industry is heading. Find…
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#43- The Double Booking Debate: Profit vs. Burnout
If you’ve ever wondered whether double booking is the secret to making more money or just a fast track to burnout, this episode is for you. I’m diving into the debate that’s dividing stylists right now...is single booking really “better,” or is there still a place for double booking in today’s...
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#42- The Boss They’ll Remember: What Will Your Team Say About You Next Year?
If your team were asked privately what it’s like to work for you, what would they say? In this episode, I’m diving into the reality check every salon owner needs, the reputation you’re building as a leader right now and how small shifts today will shape the story your team tells about you next...
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#41- Ready or Not? Why Now is the Best Time to Build the Team You’ve Always Wanted
If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll “focus on your team later,” this episode is your wake-up call. I’m sharing why waiting will cost you more in stress, money, and freedom and why now is the best time to build the team you’ve always wanted. Register for my FREE masterclass:...
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#40- Too Much Too Soon: Why Over-Giving Backfires and Weakens Your Team
If you’ve ever found yourself giving too much too soon: higher salaries, endless praise, or too many benefits, only to feel resentment creeping in, this episode is for you. I’m sharing the hard lessons I had to learn about over-giving, and how my good intentions ended up backfiring. If you’re...
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#39- I Didn't Know It Was Possible: A Story I Thought I'd Never Tell
If you’re exhausted behind the chair and wondering if the life you really want is even possible as a salon owner, this episode is for you. I’m finally sharing the story I never thought I’d tell, the moment I realised I’d built the kind of freedom I was told didn’t exist in this industry. From...
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#38- Morning Matters: How One Small Ritual Gets My Team on the Same Page Every Day
If your salon mornings feel a little chaotic, with stylists showing up unprepared, things slipping through the cracks, or the day starting off on the wrong foot, this episode is for you. I’m sharing the one small but mighty ritual my team does every single morning that keeps everyone on the same...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Shift is for salon owners who refuse to lead the old way. It’s real talk about leadership, culture, and growth with practical strategies that actually work in the real world of salon ownership.
HOSTED BY
Michelle Tanner
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Shift have?
The Shift currently has 87 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Shift about?
The Shift is for salon owners who refuse to lead the old way. It’s real talk about leadership, culture, and growth with practical strategies that actually work in the real world of salon ownership.
How often does The Shift release new episodes?
The Shift has 87 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Shift?
You can listen to The Shift on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Shift?
The Shift is created and hosted by Michelle Tanner.
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