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Hey Reader,

What a great question. This past week, a 2nd year business major student asked me this question. Before I tell you my answer, let's define both and how they translate to barbers.

Hard skills

Also called 'technical skills', hard skills are practical. Think of a skill that you can be trained to do. It's black and white. Cutting hair is a technical skill. We were trained how to use clippers properly, shears properly, straight razor properly etc.

Soft skills

This is more of a gray area. Soft skills are people skills that speak to how we engage and interact with others. For example: communication, strategic thinking and leadership. These aren't as easy to train. It's not so black and white.

For barbers, soft skills can be how you relate to your clients, making them feel comfortable, leading a consultation, engaging with a walk-in or handling conflict with co-workers etc.

Hard skills without soft skills

Everyone knows a barber who is amazing at cutting hair but struggles with people. They might give you the best hair cut in the world, but struggle with communication or struggle with time management. They could have a huge ego and constantly butt heads with the owner.

Clients will return to this barber because of the cut.

Soft skills without hard skills

Let's flip the coin. Picture the barber who everyone loves but isn't the best at cutting hair. Conversation with their clients flow easily, they get along with the other barbers but their cuts are mediocre.

Clients will return to this barber because of the conversation.

Hard skills and soft skills

The barber provides an amazing service and interacts with people effectively. They treat their clients well, they get along with co-workers and have a healthy relationship with the shop owner.

Clients will return to this barber because of the cut and conversation.

Developing both skills

Hard skills can be easier to develop. You can go to the workshop and learn how to do the technical skill. From cutting hair through various techniques, to learning digital marketing or social media management.

Soft skills take time and aren't a quick fix. You don't become a leader overnight. Reading a book about leadership can introduce you to concepts but putting them into practice can be difficult.

Do you need both?

It really depends on your vision. If you want to become a leader, then yes, you'll need both hard skills and soft skills. If you prefer to be an individual contributor, then hard skills might be enough. Just be the silent barber who gives amazing haircuts and barely talks.

Here's my hot take.

In our industry, it feels like education is leaning towards hard skills. Teaching you how to cut with certain techniques, how to leverage social media, how to market yourself, how to track your finances etc.

Let's not underestimate the importance of soft skills though. Without developing those, you might find yourself running from problems and making enemies along the way.

What do you think? Are hard skills or soft skills more important?

Footnote: Once a year, I typically visit my college alma mater and share lessons from my career. This is what sparked the conversation with a 2nd year business major. For the record, I have my degree in Communication Studies from Cal Poly SLO which is probably why I believe in soft skills so much.

If you want to read more about hard skills vs soft skills, here's an article I found helpful.​

Written by: Matthew Mendoza​​
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