Why Goal Planning Is Important
“If you don’t know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere.”
- Henry Kissinger, American Politician and Secretary of State
This saying of Henry Kissinger is very true in case of franchise business. The franchise business arena is more complex than simple business field; similarly the goal planning process in a franchise business is not only important, but radically different as well. The goal planning of the franchisor is the driving force of the whole franchise system; his goal will define his franchisees’ goals to some great extent. Hence, the person in charge of the goal planning is supposed to be an excellent leader. Besides setting up his goal, he also needs to know the right way to reach that goal.
The most crucial part of setting up a goal is charting the route. If the leader plans to walk alone in that pathway without delegating duties, then chances are that he will end up being alone! When everyone works in a team and each one knows what he or she is supposed to do, then it’s certainly a sign of proper goal planning. So, you need to make such strategic planning that involves both the franchisor and the franchisee. On the part of the franchisor, his goal planning should include how aggressively he will promote business for sale offers. Is he planning to strike the iron while it is hot? Then he may give more efforts and time on the expansion of number of units rather than developing them. If he takes it slow, then his goals may not gel with that of a franchisee who wants to be a multi-unit operator and expand fast.
Whichever way you plan, review each of the milestones, whether you have achieved it or not. Never excuse yourself for failed goal; rather try to be objective and find whether there was a better way out. Brainstorming sessions together with the franchisees and other members of the team is one of the best ways of goal planning. Besides getting to the place where you want to be, it also helps you to develop such an environment where one can rely on each other. As for the franchisee, there’s no reason to think that you have reached your goal when the franchisor reaches his. You should have a goal of your own, in tandem with the vision and goal-planning of the franchisor, which you have to achieve yourself. It can be both professional and personal; but make sure your goal planning doesn’t clash with that of the franchisor in any way. If that happens, none of you can reach your desired goals.