1851

As business owners, franchisees have a personal investment and responsibility in the operations of their business. Whether an owner-operator who is involved in the day-to-day functions of the business or an absentee franchisee who employs a business manager, the teams&nbsp;that franchisees have in place can make or break their business. Regardless of the ownership model, asserting leadership while still empowering employees is a balancing act necessary for success.

Exerting organizational influence without micromanaging requires clear communication of vision and expectations, whether the franchisee is around every day or not. While the ownership model is entirely dependent on business type and franchisee priorities, operational awareness applies across the board.

Tommy Maher, a franchisee with <a href="http://www.officeevolutionfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=exerting-organizational-influence-but-not-too-much-in-the-workplace-2708288" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">shared coworking space Office Evolution</a> in Summit, New Jersey, elected to sign on to the brand&rsquo;s model with the specific intention of being as hands-off as possible. Both Maher and his business partner have full-time jobs that require travel. 

&ldquo;We needed a model where we could hire an employee to fully run our business and come to us with outstanding issues to consult our opinion and expertise,&rdquo; Maher said. &ldquo;Our business manager is the face of our business. She is building relationships with members and handling sales responsibilities. We&rsquo;ve given her the flexibility and autonomy to run operations within these guidelines so we can focus on growth options and opening a second location.&rdquo;

Christina Lazar, a <a href="https://www.codeninjasfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=exerting-organizational-influence-but-not-too-much-in-the-workplace-2708288" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Code Ninjas</a> franchisee in Fort Mill, South Carolina, opened her kids coding center in 2017 and acts as owner-operator with her husband. Her background as a classroom teacher led her to launch her own tutoring business, which she has independently run for the last 11 years. Lazar originally sought out a kid&rsquo;s coding franchise because of her son&rsquo;s lack of connection with other extracurricular activities in the area. All of these factors - teaching experience, small business experience and a personal connection to the service offering - led to her desire for day-to-day involvement in the business. 

&ldquo;We went into our franchise agreement with the intention of not having a manager or director for at least the first year,&rdquo; Lazar said. &ldquo;In our new business, we wanted to get to know our customers, and learn what works and what doesn&rsquo;t [operationally].&rdquo;

In each franchisee&rsquo;s ownership model, communication and established procedures are utilized to disseminate information from franchisee to employee so nothing falls through the cracks and all parties have a point of reference for priorities and expectations.

Beyond making weekly appearances at his Office Evolution franchise location, Maher said he and his partner are in &ldquo;constant communication&rdquo; with their business manager, receiving a daily rundown of pertinent information to remain in touch without being physically present. &ldquo;Communication is what really allows our system to work,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re updated on sales, member movements, tours and signups and added revenue.&rdquo; 

Lazar&rsquo;s passion for teaching has influenced how she manages operations at her Code Ninjas franchise. &ldquo;We are in constant communication. It allows me to be involved in every step,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This began with the negotiation and signing of lease terms, continued with community introduction and carried into implementing the Code Ninjas curriculum and tools it provided to run our center how we saw fit to best encourage learning,&rdquo; Lazar added.

Presence and activity are integral to business development, no matter what ownership role a franchisee takes on. Getting employees to buy in without being intimidated by an owner&rsquo;s presence comes down to team assembly and a shared knowledge of expectations and goals thanks to communication.

Exerting Organizational Influence (But Not Too Much) in the Workplace

1851 Franchise

Striking a balance between making your presence known without impacting employee workflow requires precision, whether you’re an owner-operator or not.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

exerting-organizational-influence-but-not-too-much-in-the-workplace

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Unlocking the Potential: How Much Can You Earn as an Onigilly Franchisee?

unlocking-the-potential-how-much-can-you-earn-as-an-onigilly-franchisee

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno 

Grease, Grit, and Growth: DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno, Nevada

grease-grit-and-growth-dewitts-ignite-new-chapter-for-filta-environmental-kitchen-solutions-in-reno-nevada

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-50 Unit-Wendy's-Franchisee-June-2025

Why This 50 Unit Wendy’s Franchisee Is Betting on Layne’s for His Next Big Move

wendys-franchisee-expands-with-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring’s Jim Balis Talks Growth, ROI and the Future of Fast Casual on “Rock My Restaurant”

capitalsprings-jim-balis-talks-growth-roi-and-the-future-of-fast-casual-on-rock-my-restaurant

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Love for Dogs Into a Business with Dog Training Elite

How This Franchise Consultant Turned a Lifelong Love for Dogs Into a Growing Business with Dog Training Elite

how-this-franchise-consultant-turned-a-lifelong-love-for-dogs-into-a-growing-business-with-dog-training-elite

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photos of Danielle Rosemond & Usman Khan & TruBlue logo

Family Members of Local Physicians Bring TruBlue Franchise to North Central Nassau, Long Island: A Health Care-Inspired Approach to Aging in Place

family-brings-trublue-franchise-to-north-central-nassau

Exerting Organizational Influence (But Not Too Much) in the Workplace

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS