e x pert a dv i c e
HELPING FRANCHISEES AVOID UNPRODUCTIVE LEADERSHIP WITH THIS SIMPLE TOOL People don’t change jobs, they change leaders. And for SMEs including franchisees, the impacts of ineffective leadership and high turnover have significant and ongoing impacts to productivity and growth — which can be avoided, and it’s easier than you may think. We’re not just talking about the need for a positive culture and bringing the best out
in people. We’re talking about vital aspects of leadership often overlooked, especially in SMEs. And with a career spanning two decades’ in leadership roles at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) before dedicating my life to consulting and writing about leadership best practice, it’s fair to say I’ve seen plenty of leadership blunders... Leadership is not always seen as a priority in SMEs yet it should be. Small team environments mean people are closer to each other, which demands stronger relationships. Leadership is entirely dependent upon relationships and in small team environments, things can go pear shaped fast.
24 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand
Many people think they’re good leaders (or that they’re just ‘so misunderstood!’) yet their staff turnover is high, productivity is low, people struggle to support and implement strategies, teams are segregated and input is withheld — all of which leads to unproductive cultural habits. When our habits are damaging relationships, people will form their own unproductive habits to survive us. This stifles innovation, productivity and commitment. SMEs don’t have the capacity to absorb cultural issues like larger corporations do. They tend to move faster with the impact on operations and overall productivity being more significant.
