What do you do if your dream to open multiple branches of existing business comes true? Are you ready to handle success when you are opening new branches in different locations every year or even month?
Multi-branched business owners and branch managers around the world share the same challenges of handling multiple branches. Below are some tips to get your grip on it right from the start.
1. Maintain uniform processes and systems
Right from the start of hiring new employees to handling customer feedback, there must be a company standard operating procedure that every staff is aware of and follows for continuous best results. Ensure the process is well documented and clearly communicated to every person on your team. Training must include this document. You could also consider doing a scoreboard-based program, rewarding branches that perform highly in these areas so the staff are motivated to go beyond good enough. If you don’t already have it, work on it right away so you can be ready when you reach the milestone for growth.
2. Streamline communication methods
Poor communication is a problem in most of the corporate scenarios. Communication is most likely already there; You just have to streamline it. Using an internal social channel for this is helpful as it keeps all communication in one place with the entire team and there is the responsibility for your staff to respond to matters that concern them.
Ensure you are available to support all your branches anytime they need you. Show your presence by video calls, email, chat or phone.
3. Do not micro manage
It is important to ensure that the branches are performing as expected. However do not get into micro managing your branches.
You have to think strategy-level and maybe sometimes you also have to do the implementation (this is dependent on your organizational structure), but being on top of every single detail will lead to stress and even forgetting your own core responsibilities.
Require regular progress reports. Reports from your branches, say weekly ones, give you an overview of how your branches are improving, and which areas you can help with to push.
4. Recruit good managers
Hire capable and trusting managers, this will make delegating the tasks easier.
Initial effort to train them in the right direction is necessary. You can trust them with operational details later when you can focus on the bigger picture.
When capable staff are well trained, you can focus on other important objects. Also trusting them will make them more involved in the job, which can be very motivating.
Managing multiple branches is difficult but possible. All it takes is a little experimenting and tweaking of the process to get that wheel turning and eventually see that branch never run out of customers going in and out the door!
Source: Symph
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