A Handful of Helpful Tips for Any Franchisee

by Michelle Wiginton

We have all attended conferences and gone to motivational seminars that have rocked our world, pumped up our spirits and infused us with so many ideas that it would take a legal-sized note pad to capture all of our industry-changing inspiration. Then, we go to bed and forget most of what we learned and wake up the next morning to the phone ringing with a sick employee calling in. Rushing to work, we find our inventory shipment is short and back-ordered, and there is an opossum in the back room.

Now, where did all that positive enthusiasm for our new ideas go and how can we get it back? Help! Each of us needs a way to test and temper all that positive energy into realistic synergy. Maybe this idea will work for you.

To be honest, I am an education addict. I love learning new things and sharing what I learn with others, but I have also learned that the best thing we can take away from any new educational “experience” is a better understanding for how we currently do what we do and how new ideas, processes, procedures and cultural shifts might impact our business now and in the future.

Here is something I like to do when considering implementing a new idea (notice I said idea, not ideas…too much change is overwhelming, cannot be properly measured and can be confusing to your employees and your customers), it’s called my handshake test. Consider each finger on your hand before you extend it to “shake” on something new.

Thumb: The thumb works with every other finger and helps strengthen, stabilize and allows each finger to be better than it could ever be without the thumb. Is your idea the same? Does it compliment your business, its people and practices? Does this idea strengthen your core business and provide a firm foundation from which to build on?

Index Finger: This finger is your “pointer” finger and it should remind you to ask the questions you have and find answers before you shake on any deal. Are there hidden costs? Who is going to spearhead this effort and manage the success of its implementation? How are we going to pay for this?

Middle Finger: This is typically the tallest finger on your hand and it represents ownership and management. If the management team is not on-board, you will face implementation obstacles and struggles. Are you in a position to push/pull the idea into the corporate culture with minimal feedback? Have you accessed the need for change in your organization and feel this is the best plan of action for you and your company at this time?

Ring Finger: The ring finger symbolizes commitment and longevity. You must make sure you are committed to an idea before you try to incorporate it into your business family. And, like family, there is sure to be push-back. Have you done your homework and can you justify your new change to those in your organization? Sure, you may be the boss, but employees like to know why change is occurring, not simply that it is. Will this new idea save them time, money, resources? Remember, handshakes symbolize relationships and that involved getting to know your employees and customers.

Pinky or Baby Finger: Your tiniest finger should remind you that each idea or change you bring to your organization is like a newborn baby and it cannot exist on its own. Change must be nurtured, fed and taken care of so that it will be able to integrate successfully into your business family. If you just plop a baby down on your team meeting table and leave it there, it will die. The same goes for your ideas. Establish an implementation plan, get input from your employees, measure success, celebrate milestones and don’t be afraid to tweak here and there. Remember, kids don’t come with instructions booklets and neither did your business.

Michelle Wiginton
Event Coordinator
Just Between Friends

Learn more about Just Between Friends at topfranchises.franchisebusinessreview.com.

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