How to Set Powerful Franchise Goals that Get Results

By Evan Hackel January was the month when people everywhere make resolutions. But smart franchise professionals set and reach goals all through the year.  And looking back, do you see that you  set New Year’s goals for 2020and now realize they never really happened? That has been an issue for most of us, so don’t feel guilty about it. This year, after all, has been the year of Covid-19.  But we can refresh those goals, reach them, and create a productive new future. In this article, let’s discover some strategies that can work especially well in franchise organizations.  The Whys of Goal Setting Why shouldn’t you give up on goals? Let’s review some compelling reasons to stick with them. Achievement - People who set goals get a lot more done than people who don’t. They become more successful. That’s been proven, and there’s no denying it.  Clarity - Well-defined goals help you focus on what you want to accomplish. Leverage - The power of your goals is multiplied in franchise systems, because you aren’t only setting goals for yourself, but for all your franchisees. Results can improve even more if you set goals for the entire system, franchises set goals for their own locations, and you monitor all goals accoridng to an overall plan. In that way, even small amounts of progress can achieve phenomenal results.  Motivation - When you set goals and share them with others, they help you achieve them by taking take part, checking up. keeping you on track, and taking other steps to keep the process moving forward. The Five Keys to Effective Goal Setting The most effective goals are SMART goals, which means they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Let’s explore those traits further.  Specific – Express your goals in simple clear words, put them in writing, and share them with others.  Measurable –  Key your goals to specific metrics and benchmarks that you can quantify and track. As the old business saying holds, “What gets measured, gets done.” Attainable – There is no point in setting goals that are so ambitious that they cannot be reached. There is much more power in setting smaller goals and increasing them according to a plan.  Relevant – The most effective goals are those that will impact on processes which, if improved, will produce meaningful improvements in key operational areas. So take time to define them carefully. Time-Bound – A calendar can be your greatest ally when it comes to achieving your goal. So create a date-specific action plan, share it with your team, and check it every month to be sure things are on track.   About Evan Hackel Evan Hackel is a 35-year franchising veteran as both a franchisor and franchisee. He is CEO of Tortal Training, a leading training development company, and principal of Ingage Consulting. He is a speaker, hosts "Training Unleashed," a podcast covering training for business, and author of Ingaging Leadership. Evan is an approved C-Suite Advisor. To hire Evan as a speaker, visit evanspeaksfranchising.com. Follow @ehackel or call 781-820-7609. Why not have Evan Hackel address your group about franchising success?