Every January, the same cycle repeats: we jot down a list of resolutions with the best intentions, only to watch them fade as life gets busy. What if, instead of a list, you made a commitment to being more resolute? This mindset shift isn’t about creating lofty goals; it’s about taking more deliberate actions with how you approach your life and business.
In franchising, we rely on systems and procedures to simplify operations and create consistency. In essence, we build good habits that keep things running smoothly. Yet over time, even the best habits can slip and inefficiencies start creeping in. The new year offers a natural opportunity to reflect on the past, reset priorities, and refine those habits to ensure the next 12 months are as productive and fulfilling as possible.
The power of reflection
Before planning for the year ahead, it’s essential to take stock of the year behind. What worked? What didn’t? What habits or practices have you let go of that used to serve you well? Self-reflection isn’t about dwelling on mistakes; it’s about learning from them and using those insights to move forward.
Franchise networks, much like individuals, benefit immensely from this process. Over time, systems evolve and so do the people who operate within them. By pausing to reflect, both franchisees and franchisors can identify areas where beneficial habits have fallen by the wayside or where new ones must be developed to align with overarching goals.
Start doing, stop doing: A simple yet effective exercise
To kickstart your journey toward becoming more resolute, try this straightforward, yet powerful exercise. It’s something you can do personally and share with your franchise network to inspire collective growth.
Take a moment to create a list with two categories: actions you’d like to start doing and actions you’d like to stop doing. For instance, on a personal level, if you are looking to improve your health, you might start with something like: stop snacking on junk food in the afternoons and start going to the gym 3 times a week. When it comes to your franchise business, ask yourself, “What actions consistently move me toward my goals?” and “What behaviours are holding me back or steering me off course?”
There are a number of ways to approach this exercise and varying questions that you can ask yourself to elicit similar, insightful results. It doesn’t have to be as reductive as stop/start. You could take a more gradual approach by making a list of things you’d like to do more or less of, instead of expecting complete change and eradication of certain behaviours. You can add a third category here too, listing things that you should continue doing.
Regardless of your approach to these questions, the main thing is to take the time for self-reflection. By positioning these questions around goal alignment, you focus on purposeful change. Maybe you want to start delegating more effectively or stop procrastinating on tasks that feel daunting. Perhaps you need to start holding weekly team check-ins or stop overcomplicating simple processes. The beauty of this exercise lies in its adaptability; it can be as granular or as big-picture as you want it to be.
Applying resolution to your franchise network
This exercise isn’t just for individuals; it can be a transformative tool for franchise teams and networks. Encouraging franchisees to reflect on their own operations—what’s working and what isn’t—can spark meaningful conversations and collective improvements.
A franchisor might ask their network, “Are we consistently following the processes that made our system successful?” or, “Are there outdated practices we need to stop or new trends we should embrace?” Similarly, this can be used at an employee level and franchisees can glean valuable insights from their team members.
By fostering this level of reflection and action, the entire franchise system becomes more aligned, resilient, and ready to take on the year ahead. It empowers individuals within the franchise network to take ownership of their work and makes them feel like a valued part of the organisation as a whole. The more workers are included in decision making and given the opportunity to engage in meaningful feedback, the better they are going to feel.
Being resolute isn’t about perfection; it’s about purposeful progress. As the new year begins, ask yourself: How can I trade fleeting resolutions for a commitment to reflecting and taking deliberate action? The above stop/start/continue reflection activity is one of many approaches that you can take and integrate across your whole organisation. Whether you’re refining habits, building new ones, or passing along this philosophy to your franchise network, the benefits are long-lasting. This year, don’t just make resolutions—be resolute.
