How Paying Attention to Habits and Small Changes Can Improve a Franchise Organization.
The success of a franchise organization depends not only on major strategic decisions but also on the daily habits, rituals and culture that both the franchisor and the franchisee adopt. Small changes, repeated over time, can greatly impact the entire organisation’s performance. In this blog, we’ll look at how the power of habits and step-by-step improvements can take your franchise to the next level
The Power of Habits in a Franchise
Habits are the invisible foundations on which a company runs. In a franchise, these habits are important for individual performance and the consistency of the entire formula.
Franchisors often create a clear structure for their franchisees, in which standardized processes, such as opening a store or welcoming guests, are taught as a routine.
Small daily habits, such as systematically checking stock, greeting customers with a fixed phrase, or performing a day closing, ensure that everything runs smoothly.
It’s not about executing these habits perfectly but about being consistent. By keeping this up daily, you create a culture in which everyone can improve step by step.
Small changes, big impact
Improving a franchise organization doesn’t always involve drastic changes. Often, it’s the small, targeted adjustments that make the biggest progress. Imagine a franchisee making a small change to how the team is trained, for example, by spending an extra 15 minutes each week discussing customer feedback. While this may seem small initially, it can lead to better customer satisfaction and ultimately increased sales in the long run.
Franchisors can also apply this principle. By implementing small, measurable changes to their support of franchisees—for example, a monthly check-in with additional tips and feedback—they can help achieve larger goals in the long run.
Culture and rituals: the glue of the organization
Every successful franchise has a strong culture, and rituals play a key role in this. Consider, for example, the monthly “franchise meeting” in which successes are celebrated or a fixed moment when new employees are welcomed with an introduction day. These rituals strengthen the mutual bond and create a sense of togetherness within the organization.
Small, meaningful habits can further strengthen this culture. For example, franchisees can get into the habit of thanking their team members daily, which contributes to a positive work culture and creates more engagement. In turn, franchisors can influence their franchisees’ habits by using successful franchisees as role models and sharing their habits with the rest of the organization.
The importance of process goals rather than just outcome goals
Many franchisees are focused on big result goals, such as a specific turnover or several new customers. While outcome goals are important, focusing on small process goals can often be a more effective way to achieve success. Process goals focus on the daily actions and habits that bring you closer to your result goal.
An example of a process goal might be: “Engage five new customers daily about our loyalty programs.” By emphasizing the action (the process), rather than just the result (more customers), you increase the likelihood that your goals will be met in the long run. These small, daily repeated actions build momentum and add to the bigger picture.
Small steps lead to big changes
A key principle in franchise management is the idea that small, consistent steps are key to sustainable growth. Imagine that each franchisee carries out a small improvement project every month, such as improving the efficiency of a particular process or improving the customer experience at one specific point. After a year, these twelve small steps together greatly impact the quality of service and profitability.
Franchisors can support this by offering tools and training focusing on these minor, continuous improvements. This gives franchisees the tools to form new habits contributing to the organisation’s overall success.
Conclusion
A franchise organisation’s success is determined not only by big decisions or major changes but also by daily habits and small steps that are consistently repeated. By focusing on culture, rituals, and small process goals, both franchisors and franchisees can get one step closer to their goals every day. Small changes, such as improving team training or implementing new customer interactions, can make a world of difference in the long run.
Every step, no matter how small, contributes to the franchise’s tremendous success. As with any journey, the constant, small steps lead to the greatest progress.
