The good life

Job satisfaction is a key benefit of franchising, reports Dorian Gonsalves

The good life

Over the past few months I have tried to cover some of the key benefits of franchising. However, one thing that doesn’t always get talked about quite as much as it should is the concept of job satisfaction. We are so used to hearing people complain that they are unhappy with their chosen career path, but if an entrepreneur chooses the right franchise, in an industry that has the potential to make people happy, this can go a long way towards to achieving job satisfaction. 

Within the Belvoir Group, our franchisees are dealing with all aspects of the sale and letting of properties, which can be quite stressful, as emotions can run high between all parties. However, a good agent is able to help people cope with those stresses and use their negotiating skills to ensure the process is as peaceful and smooth as possible. This is by no means an easy task, but for our franchisees the end goal can be very satisfying as they are working to help people fulfil their dreams and create new, exciting lives in a property that they had set their hearts on securing.

I think it is interesting that when you look back over the timeline of your life there will be certain people that you just never forget. In my experience, one of those people will be the estate agent that you dealt with! Even though there would have been many other people involved in the process, including solicitors, financial advisors and the team at the removal company, memories of these people usually fade quite quickly. So why is that the agent you dealt with somehow leaves an indelible imprint on your brain? It is because, when the deal goes through, and people are able to fulfil their dreams of a new life in a new property they remember the person who helped to make this happen, and that can be extremely satisfying. This level of job satisfaction does not just apply to sales – it happens equally as much in the lettings industry. When a property has been successfully rented out, the landlord can relax because they’ve got a good tenant, and the tenant will be happy because they have secured a new home. At present this is no easy feat because the market is so competitive that up to 20-30 people can all be looking at the same property, hoping they will be successful. In certain parts of the country this figure can rise to as high as 100 people! An agent’s ability to negotiate with all parties, steering a compromise when needed and being able to take some of the stress out of a situation is very satisfying and a measure of how much the franchisee cares about achieving a positive outcome.

Estate agency is of course not the only franchise opportunity where it is possible to achieve job satisfaction. Before you commit to taking on a franchise it is worth taking a few moments to consider whether or not your new venture has the potential to provide you with the job satisfaction that will help to sustain you over the coming months and years. As well as monetary gain, and the ability to work for yourself, will you feel supported by the franchisor, and will your franchise help you to achieve the work/life balance that enables you to enjoy family life? Will your chosen franchise have the power to change the lives of your customers, as well as your own? An ability to change lives and make people happy can be on the smallest level, and for the shortest time, but being able to deliver levels of customer service that will make your clients smile and remember you in the future, recommending you to their friends and family, and giving you job satisfaction is important. The Chinese philosopher Confucius is credited with saying: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” He has a point, and it is one that is still relevant today – particularly in the world of franchising!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dorian Gonsalves
Dorian Gonsalves
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