Clients cancel, markets evolve, team members move on or unexpected setbacks crop up. But rather than being derailed, successful franchisees build resilience into their approach as business owners.
Here, Frank Milner, president of global tutoring franchise Tutor Doctor, shares his top tips for preparing yourself and your business to handle difficult situations. Because when challenges do appear, being ready to adapt is your greatest asset.
Running a business means facing challenges – it’s simply part of the journey. Rather than fearing them, accept they’ll pop up every now and then.
The best way to stay in control is to plan ahead. By anticipating bumps in the road, you won’t be caught off guard when they appear. That might mean having financial buffers in place, lining up backup staff or building relationships with alternative suppliers. Thinking ahead keeps you steady when things get unpredictable.
And remember, flexibility is your superpower. With the right mindset, you can reframe problems as opportunities – often discovering better ways of doing things than you had originally planned.
When the unexpected does happen, the strength of your business comes down to the foundations you’ve built too. Solid systems and processes give you stability when things don’t go to plan.
One of the most important areas to get right is your finances. Cash flow planning and keeping reserves in place mean you can ride out short-term bumps without losing momentum. Equally, clear documentation is essential. If someone key is suddenly unavailable, your business won’t grind to a halt because the knowledge and processes are already captured across your team.
This means communication is everything. Reliable channels of constant communication ensure everyone knows what’s going on and can respond quickly when challenges do arise. With strong foundations, your business can stay steady and confident, even in uncertain times.
However, you don’t have to do it all on your own. Your network is one of your greatest assets, especially within a franchise system.
Franchisors and fellow franchisees often know exactly what you’re going through. At Tutor Doctor, we have groups like our UK franchise council and our Going For Growth franchisees who are fantastic for sharing practical learning from their experiences with the rest of our network – using resources like them is a great way to overcome any challenge you face.
It’s also important to surround yourself with people who can provide you with emotional support too. Working on business solutions is all well and good, but having friends or family that keep you motivated and resilient and remind you that you’re never alone are so valuable when you face the unexpected.
Next, we have training for resilience. Preparation does go beyond systems – it is about your mindset and the skills you have too. Equip yourself and your team with problem-solving techniques and crisis-management strategies, so you’re ready to respond, not react.
A great way to do this is role-playing ‘what if’ scenarios, so no one is dealing with major issues for the first time when they’re real. Encourage adaptability and accountability so that everyone knows their role in tough times and can act decisively accordingly.
Even with preparation and resilience, challenges will still come – what matters is how you choose to respond. Try not to waste too much energy dwelling on the problem. Channel your focus into the next best action.
Break down bigger obstacles into smaller, more achievable steps to keep progress moving forward. Keep communication open and transparent (again, communication is key!) – reassure staff, customers and partners that you’re taking action.
A solutions-first approach helps get you through challenges and is beneficial in the long run, as it strengthens trust and credibility with those around you.
In the end, the businesses that anticipate, adapt and stay solutions-focused overcome challenges and build lasting strength and trust. I’m a big believer that it’s not the setbacks that define you but how you handle them that matters.
