Most workers care about professional development – they want to learn and grow as their careers progress. If you’re a manager or executive, you almost certainly fit that description. People usually don’t reach your rank in a company unless they seek out challenges and opportunities to develop new skills.
The Limits of Corporate Professional Development
Over the course of more than 20 years as a corporate executive, I noticed that my employees and peers who valued professional development tended to fall into one of two categories. On the one hand, some of my coworkers were happy for the company to be in charge of their professional development. They looked to their leaders or HR to suggest specific types of training or other development. And they often limited their development activities to things that were directly required for their current job or perhaps a promotion.
On the other hand, some of my coworkers wanted to take charge of their own professional development. They were hungry to understand not just the entire company, but the entire industry. They tended to “think big” and would set aside regular time to learn more about strategy, industry trends, and growth-oriented career paths. Instead of waiting for HR to require a certification or training, they proactively made their case to attend conferences and classes.
Even for that second kind of person, however, formal professional development opportunities are usually limited in a corporate environment. For less senior employees, companies tend to focus on training that’s required by law. And for senior employees, companies usually want to see a clear line between the development opportunity and the company’s business goals or profits. The only way to access professional development may be to move up the corporate ladder – but opportunities to do that may not come up very often. Some companies even require employees to use their own funds and/or vacation time to attend a training, workshop, or conference. Talk about disempowering.
I’ve got good news, though. If you’re a hungry-to-learn leader stuck at a company that limits your growth, you can find limitless potential for growth outside the corporate world. It’s time to think about professional development as a franchisee.
Professional Development by You
As a franchisee, you get to decide what professional development to pursue. As the business owner, you are your own boss. No manager or HR department decides whether a professional development opportunity is relevant to your role or worth your time. You get to decide what to learn and when. In fact, when you’re a franchisee, your entire business is a learning opportunity. Your specific role is up to you, so you can expand your horizons by taking on unfamiliar aspects of business operations, strategy, or both.
To do this successfully, it helps to line up some resources. Seek out online courses, blogs, podcasts, books, and other learning materials that can teach you what you need to know. Resources like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and even YouTube offer plenty of free or inexpensive options. Or you can go to a brick-and-mortar resource like your local community college, public library, entrepreneur center, or Chamber of Commerce. The possibilities are virtually endless.
Many franchisors also offer professional development resources, such as online training or conferences. And every franchisor has a built-in resource in the form of a franchise owner network – the perfect opportunity for peer-to-peer learning. Personally, it’s one of my favorite elements of franchise ownership. Keep in mind: the quality of development opportunities varies by franchisor. So if professional development is important to you, ask about it when you’re vetting companies.
Ultimately, treating your franchise as a learning opportunity will benefit you immensely. You’ll keep your mind active and stay engaged with other people, which is good for longevity. And you’ll develop new skills that you can pour back into your business to make it even more successful. It’s truly a win-win!
Want to learn more about how owning a franchise can empower your professional development? Or want help finding a franchisor with good professional development resources? My team and I can help, and our services are always free. Book a call with one of us today to get started on your road to growth!
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