Tips for making your franchisee conference stress free and cost effective
Meetings can be the ultimate time & money waster. Who hasn't sat in a meeting that could have gone for half the time, had it been better managed?
They can also be great tools for revitalizing your business and your people. Jodie Parker from Iceberg Events, has some tips for making that Franchisee Conference stress free and cost effective.
1. Have a think about what you want to say.
The meeting needs to be structured to be effective. Some ideas include:
- Review of last year's performance - where we've been, where we are going. People like to see how they are faring against others in the group, or others in the industry - consider benchmarking against each other, and show the results at the meeting.
- Future directions - make sure everyone understands the big picture.
- Marketing plans - how is the word being spread?
- New products or services on the horizons.
- Internal policies - things everyone needs to know about "how we do things".
- HR and/or Safety legislation that people need to be aware of.
2. Provide a forum for your franchisees to speak.
Schedule some time in for this, and make sure everyone knows that this space will be available. While you don't want mud-slinging in front of the whole organisation, you may find a theme that can be rectified (with a solution provided by your people!) If you're worried about what they might say - let them know that "General Business" needs to be tabled prior to the event, so you know what's coming, and can be prepared
3. Make time for networking and/or team building.
Some informal networking time will be much appreciated – franchisees can talk to each other, and find out what others do to make their business work. They may find this to be the most practical part of the event!
4. Have an Awards Ceremony.
Make sure everyone knows that results are recognised and appreciated. Benchmarking activities throughout the year can provide the data for your awards night - make it the last night of the conference, and let everyone let their hair down. Awards ceremonies can be notoriously long winded - keep an eye on the timing for this, so that there's time for fun and chatting as well.
5. Get your suppliers involved.
They need to understand your business to work effectively with you. They can also help reduce the costs for your event!
6. Work out where the majority of your people are.
- hold the event somewhere close by to minimise airfares and transfer costs.
7. Treat your franchisees like guests.
As franchisor, you need to be hosting this event. Franchisees need to take time away from their business to attend this meeting – they need to see it as worth their while. Some franchisors make attendance at the annual meeting mandatory – wouldn’t it be better if they wanted to be there?
Posted by Jodie Parker, October 20, 2008 in ARTICLES | TIPS
