Buying a franchise requires evaluating the leadership team. Is the vision clear? Is the team supportive and helpful when needed? These are questions potential investors can ask current franchisees. Similarly, franchisors seek franchisees who can lead. After all, they are business owners and must lead. Franchise ownership may not be for you if you can’t delegate or are innately pessimistic. Here are the seven non-negotiable skills for franchise leadership.
Mindset Matters
Positive thinking produces more positive thinking. Without a doubt, an optimistic franchise owner will instill optimism in his staff. Employees reported feeling more at ease in their surroundings and empowered to perform at their best with a happy attitude. Similarly, franchisors who foster a favorable franchise system climate can urge others to follow suit. This fosters a supportive atmosphere throughout the franchise system, inspiring others to succeed.
Agility
2020 was invested a lot on pivoting. Franchise brands that could pivot through the epidemic survived—and even thrived. Covid afforded the franchise industry an excellent opportunity to demonstrate its resiliency. Whether gyms offering virtual lessons or eateries adding curbside pickup, franchisors and franchisees had to adapt their business models to comply with social distance limits. By providing assistance and coaching, franchisors aided franchisees in adapting.
Risk Appetite
In any case, a business owner cannot be risk-averse. Any business, even one with a proven strategy, involves risk. Although franchising mitigates this risk, franchisees must still assume a risk. The franchisor—particularly the franchise brand’s founders—are unquestionably the risk-takers. Franchisors develop the concept, turn it into a business, and then franchise it – all of which include significant risk and significant upside potential.
Being Authentic
Both franchisors and franchisees must possess integrity. Integrity — or a lack thereof — has the potential to make or ruin the franchise system as a whole. The franchisor owns the franchise agreement and the brand and image of the firm. A successful franchise system requires integrity and a positive reputation. Similarly, franchisees must operate with integrity to maintain their reputations as community leaders and brand advocates.
Enthusiasm
To be an effective leader in any situation, one must be passionate about their work. For both franchisees and franchisors, going all-in on a franchise is critical. Nobody will invest in a franchisor’s brand if they are not enthusiastic about it. Similarly, a franchisor will pause or decline to assign territory to a prospective franchisee who does not appear interested or enthusiastic about the franchise.
Communication Skills
Open discourse and ongoing communication are critical to success for franchisors and franchisees alike. It’s nearly impossible to lead a team and set expectations if you can’t communicate properly.
Power to Delegate
One of the top skills for franchise leadership is the art of delegation. Franchisee must understand delegation to grow his business. Franchisees must rely on their teams’ ability to divide and conquer to accomplish development. If you are a self-starter, there are a few owner/operator franchises that may be a good fit; nonetheless, franchisees must recruit and rely on workers in the majority of cases. Franchisees seeking direction in scaling their operations can consult the franchisor, who can assist in developing a long-term plan. Franchisors delegate by awarding franchisees territories. Additionally, as the business grows, they must increase support workers.
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