5 Qualities that Women Leaders Have in Common

When it comes to successfully growing a franchise concept, it can be difficult for brands to determine which prospective owners to welcome into their system. While a candidate may look great on paper, their skills may not translate well in a brand’s system once they’re up and running. That’s why Craig Slavin, the founder and president of Franchise Central, decided to bring behavioral sciences to the industry’s recruitment process through the Franchise Navigator.

For over 20 years, the Franchise Navigator has been integrating behavioral sciences in the franchising space. The franchisee recruitment tool is designed to make selecting top performing candidates more efficient and profitable for brands. After having prospective owners take an initial test, the Navigator highlights a candidate’s dominant and subordinate profiles. Brands can then compare their results to the top performers in their system to ensure that they’re working with the best possible franchisees going forward.

By helping brands identify the leaders in their system, Slavin has seen first-hand the qualities that most often lead to success within the franchising industry. That’s why 1851 Franchise spoke with Slavin to pinpoint the internal qualities that are common among women leaders in the industry. Here are the top five that most often lead to success:

1. Having a Clear Vision

Being successful in any industry requires people to have a goal. Leaders are constantly striving for something and thinking ahead to the next big thing, and ways that they can take their team or business to the next level. Without that vision, there’s nothing to motivate workers to succeed. And according to Slavin, that internal commitment to having a vision and being a leader is something that can’t be artificially created.

“Leaders are born leaders. You can take classes on leadership, communication and time management, but at the end of the day, there’s something in a leader’s DNA that can’t be changed,” Slavin said.

2. Drive to Accomplish Goals

One of the main qualities that the Franchise Navigator points to as making a great leader is the drive to get things done. Women leaders are accomplishers—they have an entrepreneurial drive to succeed as an individual. However, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t focused on motivating teams of people at the same time. Accomplishers share a commitment to helping others achieve their goals, and value working together as a team to improve a brand’s operations.

3. Strong Interpersonal Skills

In addition to being motivated by accomplishments, women leaders also often boast strong interpersonal skills. Being successful in the franchising industry isn’t entirely driven by analytical performance—leaders are also focused on associating with their colleagues and connecting with others.

“One of the most important components that leaders bring to the table is empathy. In order to steer people in the right direction, you need to be able to connect with your team and relate to them on a personal level,” said Slavin. “Leaders have a strong desire to understand their teammates.”

4. Desire to Support Others

Women leaders in the franchising industry are also finding new ways to contribute to their teams on a daily basis. They’re more selfless than selfish—the goal is to help the brand as a whole move forward as opposed to just one individual’s career. That means asking how they can enrich the lives of people they come in contact with, and then taking action to see those solutions through.

5. Balance Between the Brain and the Heart

Ultimately, what sets leaders apart from the crowd is the ability to find the right balance between all of the characteristics listed above. Too much of one thing often signals that a person isn’t in a position to lead. So for anyone to solidify their position as a leader in the franchising industry, it’s crucial to balance what your brain is telling you to do as opposed to your heart.

“There’s no doubt that the brain and the heart work together as a team. True leaders have the ability to think critically while also being passionate—too much of either quality has the potential to lead to poor decisions,” said Slavin. “Being a true leader comes down to finding the right balance between what your intellect and your emotions. We’ve found that balance to be the key to success, especially in the franchising industry.”