The 5 Key Ingredients for Franchise Synergy

Edward Iwaskow, Smith’s School of English FC Otsu

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Derek wrote a blog about our recent team meeting in Osaka. His blog made me think about the elements of synergy and how they apply to franchise teams. Here are my thoughts on the key ingredients needed for successful franchise synergy. Read Derek's blog HERE.

Being a member of any team is a good thing. Being on a good team is definitely an advantage. Recently we have been learning about how to leverage the power of our team through synergy. Although each Smith’s franchise is independently owned and operated, when we work together towards common goals, good things happen. This is the power of synergy. This is why I love being in Smith’s franchise system.

Here are 5 Key Ingredients for Team Synergy

Ingredient 1 Leadership

We are lucky to have a great leader in Mark Smith. Head office is a solid base from which to create new things for our schools. However leadership does not have to come top-down, it can come from anywhere within the system, and often does. True leadership is spontaneous and organic and comes from within. Derek at Tsukaguchi’s suggestion that we all do local promotion simultaneously to support each other is one example of leadership from within. Another example is Dan’s leadership on our response to the pandemic- he was the first to suggest we all have air purifiers, CO2 monitors and so on. Another owner suggested starting a forum. Yet another has offered to make new flyer designs for all of us.

Ingredient 2 Community

We are a community of individuals with a common goal. We work together and we work apart. We can ask each other for help. We can ask head office for support. Since 1996, Mark and a team of other long-term members have worked hard to build a network which we can all benefit from. The community is strong and thus we are individually solid. I wrote a whole blog about community once- it is something about which I feel very strongly. Community and synergy are symbiotic elements.

Ingredient 3 Hard Work

As with any program, hard work is at the heart of success. We all want to be successful, but without the hard work it doesn’t happen. Of course there are many other factors, but how nice is it to have your energy put into a project and then multiplied by the efforts of others? This is the power of synergy to multiply the efforts of the individuals in a group. At Smith’s seminars we spend a lot of time discussing strategies, but at the end of each seminar we all commit to working hard. Plan, and then implement. The same concept applies to business, education or any project.

Ingredient 4 Momentum

A leader appears, sets a course. The community gets together and everyone works hard. Things start to happen, ideas flow, goals are met. At this point a certain momentum is achieved. A solid team will keep this momentum going. The ability to sustain this momentum is what differentiates different groups. Imagine any major company today and read that company’s story and you will see momentum. This is a concept I often see in my students, and I let them know. “I noticed you have being improving a lot. I love all the new things you have added to your regular English lifestyle”. The power of momentum should be embraced.

Ingredient 5 Down Time

Momentum is a good thing, but we have our limits as humans. Having some down time is key to keeping our mental health and a nice work-life balance. The power of synergy is especially noticeable when we can use it to give each other a break. I am so proud to be part of a team that allows me to take time off, and give my colleagues time off, whilst maintaining momentum. I can work hard, be independent and yet I know that if I need to take a break, my school is taken care of. The ideal team synergy should support you when you are up or down, on or off. I consider myself lucky to have found such a team.

I hope these 5 ingredients can be added to the mix to improve your team synergy. Good luck!

o