Leadership key to franchising success

Leadership in any sense of the word can make or break those being led. The individuals in these positions will either drive the success of the institution or be the cause of its demise. To find and develop the ideal manager to lead a team is a challenging task in most instances, as the traits and skills required for optimal management can be quite intricate and vary widely. An effective manager needs to be a master in many areas in order to lead and inspire a team to be masters in the work they deliver.

A brand, as with any business, relies heavily on the team doing the groundwork. Should its core leadership lead the team astray, the business and brand as a whole could follow the same route. While criteria are set in place to find the ideal franchisee for a brand, the same cannot always be said when it comes to appointing other leaders to work alongside a franchisee. The concept of management does not come with a clear one-size-fits-all template that individuals work according to; however, there are some traits that make up the anatomy of a good manager.

Traits of good managers:

• Set clear goals - they are able to plan and prioritise activities aligned to their aims in order to create focus for themselves and others around them, and then use these goals to steer the team effectively.

• Show empathy - empathy is the ability to mutually understand the feelings of people around us, and should a manager be able to express empathy they will be able to create trust in the work place, which in turn will enhance loyalty and support.

• Delegate work accordingly - effective managers will delegate tasks according to the strengths of the team, while still affording members the opportunity to grow. In their delegation, they will give clear directions and set expectations but won't micro manage people around them.

• Lead by example - while proper delegation is important, there is a fine line between being hands on and hands off. Managers need to commit to more than just overseeing the workforce. They need to be the ones on the ground level using the same tools that the rest of the employees are using, setting the examples for excellence to be attained. Without their physical involvement, employees cannot change and evolve.

• Continuously build on relationships - whether it is their relationship with the franchisee, kitchen staff or even the supplier, the most important aspect of a good manager lies in the way they work to attain and retain healthy relationships with those who make up their support system. The manner in which managers deal with people separates the ordinary from the good and the good from the exceptional.

The anatomy of a successful manager builds on the structure of a thriving business; as only through good management can employees be focused on achieving success. Strong managers are one of the most critical components of employee-, and ultimately, business success.