Welcome to your new office! Or rather, your not-so-new-office at this point. Months in, you might be feeling more of a regular work flow tasking from home than you would have at your actual place of work. This is the new norm. And in many cases, working from home as a franchisee is not only mandated, it’s smart. It limits your interaction with the outside public, and depending on household responsibilities, it could leave you in a position to better take care of your family and home (Kids studying and being cared for, cooking, etc.)
Depending on your personality, this was either a huge inconvenience or a welcome change. There are those who enjoy working from home, and those who would just prefer to get out of the house. In either situation, there are adjustments that need to be made, and plans accounted for in order to find the most success as a working-from-home franchisee.
Take a look at these insightful tips to make the most out of your new situation.
Make a Designated Office
To whatever degree possible, set up a home office so you can sit down and work when it’s time to devote attention to your franchise, and take off when you’re ready to relax. Separating the two can create an important distinction. Blurring this line can make you feel stressed and as though you’re “on call” 24 hours a day. Create set business hours and enjoy your time off, even when all of the above is taking place at home.
Use a guest room, dining room area – wherever you can be closed off from the rest of your family and/or household and set up your work area. If this space isn’t available, use a bag with all your work gear, and set up and pack up each day to create a pause when work is over for the day.
Make a To-Do List
What does your franchise need from you today? Write it all down. Use an app, type it out – whatever method works best for you. The point is to be able to visualize your tasks and know what you need to get done each day. Having a list will help you complete things without pushing them off unnecessarily. As a franchise owner, it’s important to keep things rolling, which means being productive each day. Find a way to mark out how much you’ve completed and to keep track of timelines.
That might mean keeping a calendar, online scheduling, or whatever particular method works for you.
Understand the Difference Between Progress and Hours Worked
Many franchisees have found that they are able to accomplish more in a shorter amount of time. This is due to a lack of distractions and interruptions that take place in the office. (Phone calls, folks walking in to ask questions, potential issues with a customer, etc.) Take this into account when planning out your workday. It’s very likely that you can accomplish more tasks in fewer hours throughout the day.
Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t clocking eight full hours (or whatever length of time you normally work). Franchise owners are able to be productive in shorter working days. This is also a plus for those with home responsibilities that they need to take off work for, like helping kids with homework or cooking dinner.
Don’t Stress And Find What Works
Business owners are all finding what works as they go right now. Franchise owners are no different than the rest of the world. Don’t stress about how things are changing, but rather find new ways to make it work for you. Implement new tactics and plans that will help your industry, and you personally as a business owner. Try new tactics, keep what works and eliminate what doesn’t. This trial and error will help you eliminate the unnecessary steps and allow you to focus on what can bring growth.
By compiling smart steps as a franchisee, you can work to find better tactics that will help your brand thrive. Including in strange times, like changes associated with COVID-19.