Franchise owners who create a space that is open to new ideas will allow innovation to flow. Here are a few strategies that could help you today.
A new year brings fresh ideas and a renewed sense of motivation. While you are undoubtedly eager to breathe new life and innovation into owning a franchise after a period of reflection, these new ideas and strong commitment require strategies of implementation.
While a number of franchise businesses aren’t prepared or willing to push the limits of innovation, you can be a franchise owner that embraces change for the benefit of your business and your customers. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Encourage entrepreneurship
Encouraging your employees to think entrepreneurially doesn’t mean they should start thinking about cultivating their own future business plans, but rather that they should bring that method of thinking to your business.
Also known as “intrapreneurship”, employees should be aware of the fact that they can think of new ideas and bring them to you if they are a good fit for the business. Whether it’s a weekly communal brainstorm, monthly one-on-one, or just a case of ‘come to me when you have an idea’, creating a space that is open to new ideas will allow innovation to flow your way.
__________________________________________________________________________________
The British street food vendors taking a unique approach – with inspiring success
__________________________________________________________________________________
Set aside time for research
While it’s great to allow employees to bring you ideas, you need to give them the time to do the research. Whether given a daily 30-minute session, or an entire Friday afternoon dedicated to brainstorming, your employees will thank you for the time to be creative and break from the normal routine.
Setting this time doesn’t mean that each employee just sits and does online research by themselves – they can also collaborate with and speak to other employees about their ideas. Collaboration is essential in making each and every employee feel part of the bigger picture.
Embrace community platforms
Embracing the technology available to you will help you be part of the ever-evolving world of business, and support all innovative processes you implement. Whether it be storing ideas, connecting with other franchisees and swapping ideas, or accessing the tools to make your ideas come to life, technology is one of the most important areas with which to familiarise yourself.
The F45 Playbook, for example, is an intranet system built specifically for F45 franchisees and used as a digital hub for all things related to the process and growth of the business. From educational tools and marketing assets, to communication between franchisees and their employees, the hub allows for the free flow of ideas.
There are a number of ways to provide an environment where innovation is allowed to live and breathe. Start with bringing your employees on board and the ideas will start to roll in.
Sign up to our newsletter to get the latest from Business Advice.
