The red carpet. The glamour. The gowns. The hair.

This weekend millions of people will tune in to watch the Oscars.

What most people don’t see is the army of professionals working behind the scenes to make it all happen. Hair stylists. Makeup artists. Production teams. All working at pace, under pressure, with the world watching.

Interestingly, one of the films tipped for success this year – starring Leonardo DiCaprio – tells the story of a character fighting through one battle after another.

In many ways that’s exactly what running a business can feel like at the moment.

Rising costs, constant change and economic uncertainty mean many business owners feel like they’re navigating challenge after challenge.

But the key is not letting those battles overwhelm you. It’s about having a plan, knowing your numbers and making sure you stay in control of the situation rather than letting it engulf you.

A couple of weeks ago, one of the businesses I coach had a front-row seat to that same world of pressure and performance.

One of the stylists from Salon Nine in Haverhill, Lauren Jessop, was invited to join the official backstage styling team at the BAFTA Awards at The Savoy in London, working alongside professional brand GHD and helping prepare guests before they stepped onto the red carpet.

For a stylist from a Suffolk salon, that’s a pretty special moment.

But for me it also illustrates something I talk about constantly when coaching business owners: great businesses are built by developing great people.

Opportunities don’t happen by accident

When people see moments like this, they often think it’s luck.

It isn’t.

Opportunities like working backstage at the BAFTAs only come when someone has already put in the work. Lauren has built a reputation through dedication, training and consistently high standards. That’s what opens doors.

But there’s another side to it. Businesses also have to create an environment where those opportunities can happen.

At Salon Nine there’s a real focus on developing the team, giving people the chance to grow their skills and experience new things. Not just doing the same job every day, but building a career.

It’s something I see regularly when working with business owners. When a business invests properly in its people, the results almost always follow.

Because when you invest in people properly, the rewards go far beyond one exciting event.

What experiences like this bring back to the business

Working backstage at a major event like the BAFTAs is intense. It’s fast paced. You’re working alongside some of the best stylists in the industry. There’s no room for hesitation.

Experiences like that sharpen skills very quickly.

But the real value comes afterwards.

Lauren doesn’t just keep that experience to herself. She brings it back to the salon. New ideas. New techniques. New confidence.

That lifts the whole team and ultimately it lifts the experience for every client who walks through the door.

Coaching businesses to think bigger

One of the things I enjoy most about coaching business owners is helping them see what’s possible for their teams.

It’s easy for businesses to get stuck in the day-to-day. Appointments to fill. Staff rotas to manage. Bills to pay.

But if you want to build a business that really thrives, you have to think beyond the routine. You have to create opportunities for people to grow.

That might be advanced training. Industry events. Competitions. Or, in this case, the chance to work backstage at one of the biggest nights in British film.

Those moments build confidence, pride and loyalty in a team.

They also build stronger businesses.

Behind every success is a team

When the Oscars air this weekend, the cameras will focus on the stars walking the red carpet.

But behind every one of those moments is a team of talented people doing their job brilliantly under pressure.

Business is no different.

Right now many business owners feel like they’re facing one battle after another. The key is making sure those battles don’t take control of the business.

Know your numbers. Have a plan. Stay focused on building a strong team around you.

Because when you do that, even in challenging times, your business can still step onto a bigger stage.

And occasionally, that stage just happens to be the BAFTAs.