Small Biz Franchise Blog

How does lack of confidence affect the success of franchisees?

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Lizette Pirtle

Lack of self confidence is one of the greatest barriers to learning, and thus to performance and success. We all experience lack of confidence at some level at certain times, especially when we find ourselves in new situations. New franchisees are faced with a new environment and different demands on them that force them out of their comfort zones. During these times lack of confidence usually pops up its ugly face making a tough situation even more difficult.

Self-confidence primarily refers to having a positive and realistic perception of ourselves and our abilities. All franchisees believe they have what it takes to be successful in the franchise before they buy it; otherwise they wouldn’t go forward with the investment. However, once they make the decision and have to deal with the reality of being a franchisee, lack of self confidence shows up. The degree in which it emerges depends on the level of resilience of each franchisee. What we, franchisees and franchisors, must keep in mind is that lack of self confidence is present in every franchisee and only its magnitude is different from person to person.

So, how do you know if you are feeling lack of confidence :

• Are you feeling of anxious, insecure, or fearful?
• Are you experiencing self-doubt?
• Are you over-caring about what others think or say?
• Are you comparing yourself to others and concluding you come off short?
• Are you reluctant to take risks and to act?
• Are you unusually sensitive to criticism?
• Are you self-justifying or not admitting mistakes?
• Are you not asking for help and/or refusing it when offered?
• Are you over-compensating for your weaknesses with bluff?

Franchisees need to understand that lack of self confidence is part of the process of leaving our comfort zones and growing. In other words, it is OK to feel this way as long as we don’t stay there. When we can recognize our feelings and what they mean, we can move into more positive emotional states.

There two techniques franchisors can use to assist franchisees as they go through this process: communication and effective training.

Communication:

During training openly talk about lack of self-confidence as an element all franchisees need to learn to manage. Talk about how it feels, how it manifests and its consequences. Get your franchisees involved. Ask them questions to help them think of times when they felt insecure and how they overcame those fears and moved forward. Emphasize the following points:

• It is normal to feel this way; everyone does to some degree or another.
• It is important to recognize when lack of self confidence is present so we can manage it. So make sure to learn to know how it usually manifests in you.
• Lack of self confidence is caused by thoughts which lead us to our perceptions. We may not be able to control our circumstances but we have total control of what we think. For example: if you think you are not doing as well as you “should”, and this thought leads you to feel like a failure; change the thought to: “I am exactly where I am meant to be and therefore I am successful.”
• When you are feeling lack of self confidence, make a list of your past accomplishments; it will help getting a more positive perspective.
• Learning to enjoy discomfort as a sign of growth, and thus of movement towards success, is  an important part of this process.
• Focusing on something different usually shifts our feelings of inadequacy.

 Effective Training:

In my experience, the most effective training program is that which breaks down every task and concept into small steps. Small bites are easier to take on, and more so when we are feeling anxious, insecure or inadequate. Conquering a small step allows positive feelings to flow. Don’t expect franchisees to be able to take apart the new concepts you are introducing no matter how simple they seem to you. You know what needs to be done, how the business must be run and each step it takes to be successful, so SPELL IT OUT for them.

Effective training also ensures that we celebrate all small steps taken by the franchisee. Movement is what we want; its size is not relevant. Make sure you help franchisees get in the habit of celebrating their small successes. This is something most of us do not do well. Make it a game and include it in the training program to start creating the shifts that will help franchisees cope with lack of confidence when they are back in their businesses. Make sure to reinforce it often.

Related Posts

1. Is resistance hindering your franchise success?
2. Do the beliefs of franchisees affect their success?
3. When are franchisees ready to produce results?
4. Does Faith Matter in the Context of Franchising?
5. Are Your Franchisees More Interested In Being Right Than In Being Successful?