Franchisors, Franchisees: Are You Grateful?

Gratitude is a positive emotion and a way of looking at the world that engenders a sense of well being. Studies have suggested that grateful people are happier, less stressed, and more satisfied with their lives and relationships. They are able to cope with difficulties in a more positive way, hence experience a sense of more control over their lives. So, what does all of this have to do with franchising? A lot!

Gratitude is a choice. We either choose to complain about what we have or don’t have or choose to see the beauty in what we do have and the blessings that come when something is not be present in our lives. It is in that choice that we find the control over our environment. We all have heard the adage that says: “we may not be able to control our circumstances, but we can control how we feel about and react to them.” So, what does all of this have to do with franchising? A lot!

Gratitude is a habit that we create by repeating our choice for the positive frequently. The more often we make this choice, the more ingrained this habit will be. So, what does all of this have to do with franchising? A lot!

If you are a franchisor, you can’t change the way franchisees behave, but you can certainly choose how you will react. Similarly, franchisees have no control over their franchisors’ actions, but they surely can choose whether or not they affect them negatively. It is all about what we choose to see. When either party is upset at the other they have the choice to remain dwelling in the negatives which only creates more discord, or choose to be grateful for the positives such as:

If you are the franchisee:

• The franchisor started a business, took the risk, and created systems.
• The franchisor shares his or her experience with me so I don’t have to make the same mistakes.
• The franchisor is thinking of ways for me to improve my bottom line.
• The franchisor has trained me and continues to train me.
• The franchisor invests in staff to support me.
• The franchisor spends a lot of money in R & D to ensure that my business has a future.

If you are the franchisor:

• Franchisees believed in my concept and in me.
• Franchisees trusted me and invested their life savings in my business idea.
• Franchisees paid me and continue to pay me money.
• Franchisees represent me every single day in their communities.
• Franchisees have stepped out of their comfort zone to implement my system.
• Franchisees share their ideas with me and they also help each other.

Did you hear a ‘but’ as you read the statements above? If so, you need a little bit of work on being truly grateful. Gratitude is all about shifting our perspective. It is not about denying the negative; it is about focusing on the positive that is always there, regardless of the situation or person. So, what does all of this have to do with franchising?

• Grateful franchisees are happier, better performers and validators.
• Grateful franchisors create a productive company culture.
• Gratefulness engenders good franchise relations.
• Gratefulness is contagious.
• Gratefulness produces a positive environment that invites communication.

Gratitude is not just for those ‘tree hugging’ folks, as some may say.  It is for all smart franchisors and franchisees who want success.

So, when was the last time you said ‘thank you’ to your franchisees or to your franchisor?