Mel Kleiman, CSP, and Founder and CEO of Humetrics, has been helping employers, including franchisors, area developers and franchisees, standardize and systemize the way they recruit, select, and retain frontline hourly employees and their managers for over 30 years.  Here’s a recent post from Mel that we thought worth broadcasting: 

Build a Frontline That Beefs Up Bottom Line

The franchise business is like few others because it is truly only as good as the people you have working for you. Every hiring decision you make impacts the quality of your services and affects your reputation. This is why there is no more important managerial skill than the ability to recruit, select, and retain great frontline, hourly employees and their managers.

7 Steps to Easier and More Effective Hiring
Mel Kleiman

1. Create a clear picture of what you need. (This is not a job description; it’s a detailed description of the mental and physical capacities, attitudes, personality traits, and skills the ideal jobholder would possess.)
2. Develop better interview questions. (Behavioral interviewing doesn’t work anymore; job applicants have studied, researched, and rehearsed. They know exactly how to say what you most want to hear.)
3. Only let your best interviewers interview. (Your best interviewers would be those with the best hiring track records.)
4. Make sure you use pre-employment testing to screen in the best and screen out the rest. (And look at every step in the hiring process as another test too.)
5. Remember, there are only two sources of information about an applicant: (1) The applicant and (2) anyone who knows anything about the applicant. Use both to full advantage.
6. Use tools, not time.
7. Invite an observer to the interview and get their feedback before you share your observations.

We love working with Mel because he consistently delivers proven, practical, best-practice tools, tips, and techniques franchise owners and operators can put to immediate use to build a frontline, hourly workforce that boosts profitability, increases customer satisfaction, and makes going to work more enjoyable and FUN for everyone.

What franchise system couldn’t gain from a few more tools and tips to help build a healthy workforce? 

Let us know if you are interested in exploring how Mel might support your next franchise conference agenda.  Franchise systems bring him back time and again for dynamic and entertaining, roll-up-your-sleeves workshops and breakouts.

We’re here to help!

Katrina

As a performance expert who helps companies align people, culture, and strategy to drive results, Joe’s strategy is not to help a company become a leader in their category, but instead to help them create a different category and be the only one in it!
 

In fact, his best-selling Becoming A Category of One, focuses on just that.

Here’s a recent post from Joe.  We think he’s right on the money…  

It’s a love thing.

“Do you want your customers to love doing business with you?”

Everyone answers “yes.”  No exceptions.  We all give lip service to the idea that we want our customers to love us, but very few of us are truly intentional about creating that love.

Customers that love you (and that are loyal and recommend you) don’t happen by accident.  Top brands and market leaders are very intentional about doing those things that make customers fall in love with them.

What are the behaviors that we must engage in to create customer love?

What do we have to do every time with every customer?

What are the things that we must never do?

Have we designed a culture that creates emotional connections with customers?

Apple has.  Southwest Airlines has.  Chik-Fil-A has.  Nordstrom has.

Maya Angelou said “People will forget what you said.  People will forget what you did.  But people will never forget how you made them feel.”

What feelings do you create in customers?

Love?

If not, you aren’t doing it right.

— Joe Calloway, CSP, CPAE

One of the things we love about working with Joe is that he is genuinely, authentically himself both on the platform and off the platform.  Joe is smart, insightful, funny and provocative and easily becomes part of our client’s franchise convention success team.  And although Joe has been inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame, he doesn’t do traditional “speeches.”  Instead, Joe actively engages franchise professionals in highly interactive keynotes and workshops that challenge assumptions and create new ways of thinking throughout the system.  Here’s what one franchise company had to say about Joe’s recent engagement with them:

“We are in a dynamic phase of our company’s development and your book and presentation are helping make this healthy, productive growth.”
Lisa Fisher – Goddard Systems

Let us know if you might like to talk about how Joe can help your franchise system create and lead a “Category of One!”

More soon!
Katrina

P.S.  Happy Groundhog Day.  If today was one that we were going to live over and over, how much energy would we put into making it truly GREAT?

Complete the web form below to receive your free copy of the SPEAK!’s 2012 Franchise Industry Event Calendar. 

And as usual, we have included many of the Restaurant Industry events as well.

Let us know if we have missed anything and we’ll include it in our quarterly update which will come out in late March. 

Thanks so much to all of you who have written us about the usefulness of this tool.  Especially to those who have told me you actually laminated it and put it in front of your planner.  Now THAT’s a testimonial!

More soon! 

Katrina

Success Starts with Accountability!

Our newest addition to the SPEAK! roster, Sam Silverstein, teaches franchise audiences to do just that!
 

Sam’s key clear, actionable and motivational message is simple…

Accountability is Your Competitive Advantage!

Sam presents the four phases of accountability and the five critical, but often overlooked, ways to be proactively accountable.  Sam shows how to increase success and significance in business and in life, and will challenge your franchisees to take an honest look at themselves and discover what important road-blocks are keeping them from achieving their goals.  An application of Sam’s principles improves leadership, increases sales and improves customer service. By simply creating a culture of accountability franchise systems grow stronger.

Sam’s message is the foundation for success in any area, whether striving for improved customer service, increased sales, or a way to motivate and fire-up your franchisees.  Here are a few examples of how the message of “No More Excuses” and “Accountability as Your Competitive Advantage” might apply for your next conference:

• Motivation / Inspiration
  Accountability is the catalyst to achieve previously unattainable goals and experience unprecedented success.
   
• Sales / Customer Service
  Accountability is today’s competitive advantage to reclaim market share and win the heart of a hyper-discerning consumer.
   
• Leadership / Teamwork
  Accountability encourages system transparency, and builds trust throughout any franchise system – throughout home office teams, from franchisor to franchisee, and throughout a franchisee’s own front-line staff and management teams.  

The other thing I love about Sam’s work is his Accountability Academy as an ongoing resource to reinforce his invaluable message. 

Want to change your life? 

Choose to be fully accountable for everything you do!

I’d love to hear your accountability story, so please share.

More soon…

Katrina

PS:  I loved this segment Sam recently did for The Morning Show…

Be Accountable To Invest In Yourself – The stock markets are going crazy. Most people do not have a great investment plan or even feel comfortable investing in the stock market. Maybe now is the best time ever to invest in yourself. Learn the three areas that we should all be investing when we invest in our future. Click here to see the short video interview

It’s not news that the attitude we engage anything with makes all the difference – mediocre performance or extraordinary success.  Imagine if all of us, franchisees, franchisors, franchise industry executives refused to ‘try’ but only accepted actually ‘doing’.        

In fact, I have an adverse reaction to the word ‘try’.  Ask friends and colleagues and they will tell you I frequently quote Yoda from Star Wars,

“Do or do not; there is no try.”

So here’s a thought for the day…..

THE DAILY MOTIVATOR

Thursday, January 19, 2012 

Doing

+++++++++++++++++++ 

The way to achieve is not to try. The way to achieve is to do. 

The difference between trying and doing is all in your perspective. That difference makes all the difference in the world. 

When you see yourself as trying, you are burdening yourself with the expectation of failure. Instead, put all your energy and focus into doing your very best, and into expecting the best results. 

Merely trying is itself an excuse, and it gives you permission to make all sorts of other excuses. Doing, on the other hand, gets results. 

If you’re going to make the effort, then make it count. Let go of any thoughts that you’re just trying, and embrace the most positive expectations. 

You are absolutely capable of making a real and valuable difference. So forget about trying, and with well-deserved confidence, go ahead and get it done. 

Ralph Marston

………………………………………………………………….

Copyright (C) 2012 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All rights reserved. Visit The Daily Motivator web site at http://greatday.com for an archive of more than 3,000 daily messages, inspirational photos and more. 

Let’s get DOING!

More soon…

Katrina

Here’s an excerpt from Dean’s book, The Progress Challenge, which by the way, is a GREAT read – fun, engaging, full of actionable tools and tips, great stories, and memorable quotes:

What is an effective use of your time?

The answer is totally subjective because the value of the results is subjective.  What makes a wise investment of time for me may not be a wise investment for your.  Each of us is, however, investing some of our time in daily activities that do not serve our goals.  Too much time is allotted to fleeting interests that we know are less important than progressing toward our crafted goals.  That is why it is so important to remind ourselves of the benefits of our goals.

Time Management is really
Self-Management, with a respect for time!

All of us have said to ourselves, “Oh, I really would like to (fill in the blank), if I could only find the time.”  Time doesn’t need to be found.  It’s right here.  Time needs to be invested wisely.  Each day, we are choosing to invest our time somewhere, and for a reason.  By managing our time more wisely, we minimize stress, improve our quality of life, and have time to progress. Unfortunately, time management is one of those life skills that no one teaches us in school.

Here are 10 questions to ask yourself to help you get clear on how you invest your time.

Ponder & Progress:

1. When do you feel you waste time?
2. Is procrastination a problem?  How so?
3. Do you need to exercise better “time management?”  Why?
4. What are two important things in your life that must be done but aren’t?
5. What are the most valuable uses of your time right now?
6. Do you list and rank tasks that need to be done each day?
7. During what part of the day are you most productive or effective?
8. What are two actions that you do weekly that could and should be done by someone else?
9. What is the best use of your time in terms of your short-term goals?
10. What is the best use of your time in terms of your long-term goals? 

We don’t find time or make it; we schedule time and take it!

There is always time to progress. 

Be Progress!

Dean

Dean Lindsay is an authority on harnessing the human potential and creating authentic business growth.  He’s the real deal in every way – smart, energetic, fun, innovative, and as a speaker engaging, inspiring and provocative.  Interested in finding out more about how Dean might support your franchisees?  His dynamic keynotes cover networking, sales, and customer service.  Here’s what a recent franchise client had to say about Dean’s impact on their group:

“Dean Lindsay was the perfect choice to keynote the Meineke Dealers Association Convention.  His combination of contagious wit and sales and service insights inspired us to face the challenge of improving our operations while providing us the template to make it happen.” 
- Chris Schmitz, President, Meineke Dealers Association 

More soon! 

Katrina

Mark Scharenbroich and his Nice Bike principle simply and skillfully reminds us how to connect authentically and deeply with each other – as franchisor to franchisee, franchisees to their management and staff, and management to their front-line employees.

Quite by accident, Mark stumbled into the Harley-Davidson company’s 100th year anniversary celebration in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Driving his beige rental car around thousands of black leather, bandana wearing, hardcore Harley riders, he kept noticing the two words that really connected rider to rider…”nice bike.” 

More than a passing compliment, Nice Bike is a powerful, memorable philosophy that acts as a catalyst to help build stronger, more effective teams.  The Nice Bike principle helps individuals to become more engaged and passionate about serving others – in every aspect of the franchise system. 

“Nice Bike” is going out of your way to let people know that they matter.  It’s saying something positive to someone instead of just thinking about it.  It’s noticing others’ contributions.  It’s listening.  It’s taking action.  It’s connecting genuinely with those around you… 

… “HEY, NICE BIKE!”

Don’t miss an opportunity to say, “Nice Bike” to those you work with. A little bit of recognition goes a long way.

Nice Bike, Mark!

Katrina

P.S.  Here’s what a recent client had to say about Mark’s session with their team:

“Our conference attendees gave Mark rave reviews. He made us laugh and he made us cry. But most importantly, he made us think. Everyone loved him!”

— Jack Riggs, CEO, Pita Pit USA

“Mark was GREAT!  He really took our entire team on a fantastic ride and we were flooded with positive feedback from our franchisees. By carefully listening and intertwining comments from our CEO and founder into his sessions, Mark made it clear that he genuinely cared about connecting with our team.  If you want a gifted speaker to deliver a perfectly memorable, inspirational, fun, and practical message which will set a positive and high energy tone for the rest of your event, Mark Scharenbroich is the one!   This was our best conference yet and Mark’s presentation was greatly responsible for our success. I can’t wait to bring him back!”

— Paul Erwin, VP of Administration, Pita Pit USA

1. What’s your experience working with franchise groups?
   It’s important that your speakers understand the delicate dance of the franchisee/franchisor relationship. Ask questions that really demonstrate that this speaker will not treat your franchisees as if they are employees. Keep your goal of having this person educate, inspire and connect with your franchisees top of mind and make sure that this person is not going to alienate them. Be careful to phrase this question in a way that isn’t leading.  You want to know what they know, not what you hope they know!
    
2. Who have you spoken for recently that we can speak with?
   Get three references from clients who the speaker has worked with in the last 6 months. When checking a speaker’s references include questions such as:
• How easy were they to work with?
• Did you feel like they came from a position of service and supporting you or did you feel that the speaker was more focused on their own ego?
• Do you feel like they over- or under- delivered on what they promised?
• Did they do their homework and customize the content to genuinely connect with your franchisees?
   
3. What video clips do you have that we can circulate to our decision team?
   Be cautious of speakers who have not invested in providing a variety of clips demonstrating their ability in front of a variety of audiences. Multiple clips will help you get a feel for the speaker’s ability to consistently engage their audiences.

And to further help you carefully and systematically work through the speaker selection process, here’s our free 10 Step Checklist for Choosing the Right Franchise Speaker! 

As the only speakers bureau serving the franchise industry exclusively, SPEAK! has  helped many leading brands find the perfect franchise-savvy speakers and trainers to deliver an outstanding experience for their franchisees.  It’s not only about the right message, it’s also important to make sure the speaker fits well within the organization’s culture. Check out a few of our client testimonials.

Give me a call if you’d like to brainstorm some creative conference topics and innovative ways to make your 2012 franchise convention the most memorable and effective yet!   Katrina@FranchiseSpeakers.com or 720-304-3710.  We know the franchise world – it’s all we do and we’d love to help!

More soon…

Katrina

If you are considering doing something completely different for your 2012 Franchise Convention, Johnny D may be just the ticket!  John’s powerful, customized, content-driven comedy – as emcee, game show host, presenter, or as a cast of hilarious celebrity and original characters – is carefully customized to deliver exactly the right message to any franchise audience.

Imagine an awards ceremony with Donald Trump as the emcee

A sales rally delivered by General Patton, or a customized game show hosted by Austin Powers

Now imagine the executive team as guests on the Jay Leno show

Or a potentially challenging open forum skillfully guided to a positive resolution by Dr. Phil

John’s creative ideas are seemingly endless.  Once a franchise system has used him, they bring him back year after year.  His commitment to supporting the franchisor with carefully crafted custom content – dosed heavily with humor –  is always an extraordinary hit with franchisees.

John has performed his celebrity impersonations for franchise and corporate audiences all over the world, and been seen by millions in the Fox feature films Meet The Spartans (as Donald Trump) and Disaster Movie (as Dr. Phil & The Love Guru). John’s hilarious Austin Powers impression has been recognized as the best by People Magazine

Let us know if you’d like to brainstorm creative ideas of how John and his string of hilarious characters might support you for your upcoming conference!

More soon!

Katrina

Selecting the right speakers to kick off and close your meeting might just be the most important marketing decisions of the year. Whether your event is around the corner or 12 months away, here are a few ideas to on how to find the right speakers to ensure a successful meeting:

1. Check with other franchisors for their recommendations – of who to use and who NOT to use!
2. Check with trusted supplier partners who may have seen great speakers at other franchise conferences
3. Look for speakers with proven professional credentials such as the CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation
4. Check back with a speaker who you have used in the past who got great reviews. They very likely have fresh content and they already know your system.
5. And of course, work with a professional speakers bureau who understands franchising and your unique needs

And to further help you carefully and systematically work through the speaker selection process, here’s our free 10 Step Checklist for Choosing the Right Franchise Speaker!

Get your 10 Step Checklist for Choosing the Right Franchise Speakers and our bi-weekly Kwik Clips with everthing you need for a memorable conference! First Name * Last Name * Company * Job Title * Email *

As the only speakers bureau serving the franchise industry exclusively, SPEAK! has  helped many leading brands find the perfect franchise-savvy speakers and trainers to deliver an outstanding experience for their franchisees.  It’s not only about the right message, it’s also important to make sure the speaker fits well within the organization’s culture. Check out a few of our client testimonials.

Would you like to brainstorm some creative conference topics and innovative ways to make your 2012 franchise convention the most memorable and effective yet?  Contact us to schedule a free 30-minute consultation – info@franchisespeakers.com or 720-304-3710.  We know the franchise world – it’s all we do and we’d love to help!