Sharing Best Practices

If others are doing well, people tend to be interested in what they are doing and how they're doing it, so that they, too, can be successful. Sharing best practices is a key part attributing to the success of any organization. Similar to the old saying, "Learn from other's mistakes," it's important

A best practice, loosely-defined, is a standard-operating method that produces the best performance and results. Best practices are not, however, rules or laws. They are bendable, adaptable to individual needs and systems. They are learning tools.

Having a franchisee culture that embraces the sharing of best practices can help avoid reinventing the wheel, and more quickly enact new processes or programs that can help improve internal processes and service to customers. By its very nature, a franchise organization thrives on best practices. Sharing what successful franchisees are doing encourages others to do the same.

Storytelling Builds Community

Sharing best practices is like storytelling, a concept legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg learned at an early age. Many organizations are now also learning that storytelling is a powerful communication and business tool. Storytelling helps build community and makes communication more human. Stories often lead to direct action. They can help close the gap of knowing how to do something and actually doing it. Not only do stories use natural day-to-day language, but they also extract an emotional response from your audience.

One can find and share best practices in all aspects of a business: marketing, franchise relations, training, operations and numerous others. Sometimes, however, the biggest hurdle is not the failure to dedicate resources to earmark best practices, but actually finding these best practices. Most people are humble, and if asked about their best practices, most would simply answer, "I don't really have any."

When seeking best practices from a network, be specific. Ask specific questions to get specific answers.

Instead of, "Do you have any best practices in hiring?" ask, "What do you do to recruit new employees?" Or ask, "Where have you found success in finding your best employees?"