1851

The coronavirus continues to have dire effects on businesses across the country, and the franchise industry is no exception. Franchisors across segments are strategizing new ways to support their franchisees, keep customers satisfied, help local communities and come out stronger on the other side of this crisis.To that end, 1851 Franchise publisher Nick Powills and Charles Internicola, founder and partner of the <a href="https://www.franchiselawsolutions.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=a-conversation-with-author-speaker-and-decision-strategist-annie-duke-2712840" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Internicola Law Firm</a>, are covering the coronavirus and its impact on businesses through our <a href="https://mbf6e734.clickfunnels.com/webinar-registration1584137477175?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=a-conversation-with-author-speaker-and-decision-strategist-annie-duke-2712840" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">A Conversation With webinar series.</a>In today’s morning webinar, Powills and Internicola spoke with <a href="https://www.annieduke.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=a-conversation-with-author-speaker-and-decision-strategist-annie-duke-2712840" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">former professional poker player, author and decision strategist Annie Duke</a> about how leaders can learn from the COVID-19 crisis.&nbsp;Here are some of the key insights from their discussion.<h4>Uncertainty is Part of Life</h4>We think we have a lot more control than we actually do. Whether it’s COVID-19 or a natural weather disaster, the issue will pull back the curtain on how much uncertainty there is in our lives. Our normal, everyday lives might be more fantasy than reality.&nbsp;Don’t simply be reactive. Be nimble. Things are very unpredictable right now, but they are closer to what real-life decision making looks like. You just can’t hide from it anymore.&nbsp;<h4>Thinking Ahead&nbsp;</h4>The more businesses can think ahead to different economic scenarios, the better. Think about where you’d like your business to be and what things you will wish you had not spent money on.&nbsp;We are usually bad decision-makers, especially when we’re in the middle of a moment when we’re losing or on a bad streak. Know when to be on the offense and when to be on the defense. You always want to pull yourself out of the moment and get yourself ahead. Imagine a previous unlucky situation and how you would react to it now versus how you reacted to it in the moment.&nbsp;Keep thinking about what would happen if your business situation goes south. You always want to be thinking months ahead or a year ahead. We tend to think that the way things are now is the way they’ll always be.&nbsp;<h4>Diversity of Ideas</h4>It can be affirming to a team’s identity when everyone agrees on something, but it can also have the unintended consequence of suppressing new opinions. It’s important to hear different perspectives.&nbsp;If you want to get the best, most complete range of opinions on how a business could be affected, both positively and negatively in any given situation, simply email your team and ask everyone to send ideas directly to you without replying all. Let them give their ideas independently. Now you can collate that information and see where people came up with the same idea, where they came up with unique ideas and which ideas overlap.&nbsp;It can be uncomfortable for teammates to disagree. There can be a lot of soft-pedaling. Emailing your team and asking them to not reply-all allows everyone’s opinions to bloom and reinforces that you value the diversity of your team. It also makes for a culture where your team is cohesive not because you automatically agree on everything but because you’re all really open-minded. In team meetings, people tend to lean on agreement and agree with each other and with whoever is facilitating the meeting.

A Conversation With: Author, Speaker and Decision Strategist Annie Duke 

1851 Franchise

https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Sh2Tlpvu4E

Nick Powills and Charles Internicola are joined by former professional poker player and author Annie Duke to discuss how leaders can learn from the COVID-19 crisis. 

a-conversation-with-author-speaker-and-decision-strategist-annie-duke

Mellow Mushroom

How Mellow Mushroom’s Model Made it the Perfect Addition to Brad Harper’s Restaurant Portfolio

How Mellow Mushroom’s Flexible Model Made it the Perfect Addition to Brad Harper’s Growing Restaurant Portfolio

mellow-mushroom-brad-harper-restaurant-growth

Dillas Quesadillas

Dillas Quesadillas Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

dillas-quesadillas-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

Paris Baguette

image of paris baguette Love Baked In Culture & Community Impact No Kid Hungry and City Harvest

How Paris Baguette’s ‘Love Baked In’ Culture Nourishes Communities

culture-love-baked-in-community

Mellow Mushroom CEO Richard Brasch Reveals How the Iconic Pizza Brand Is Evolving Without Losing Its Soul

mellow-mushroom-ceo-richard-brasch-reveals-how-the-iconic-pizza-brand-is-evolving-without-losing-its-soul

Children's Lighthouse

Why Family-Owned Children’s Lighthouse Gives Franchisees a Long-Term Advantage

why-family-owned-childrens-lighthouse-franchise-advantage

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

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

Pieology Pizza Enters Chapter 11 Following Costly Bid To Save Struggling Stores

pieology-pizza-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy

CNBC: McDonald’s Will Assess if Franchisees Are Offering Value for Customers Under New Standards

mcdonalds-franchise-standards-value-metric

How AI Is Transforming Restaurant Operations and Franchises

ai-impact-restaurants-franchises-human-centric-technology

Round Table Pizza Franchisees Take FAT Brands to Court Over Marketing Fund Mismanagement

round-table-pizza-franchisees-take-fat-brands-to-court-over-marketing-fund-mismanagement

FAT Brands Nears Bankruptcy as Creditors Demand Repayment of $1.3 Billion Debt

fat-brands-nears-bankruptcy-as-creditors-demand-repayment-of-13-billion-debt

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

Scaling by Slowing Down: A Founder’s Playbook for Sustainable Franchise Growth

founder-to-franchisor-when-pause

1851 Franchise Coffee & Analytics graphic with headshot of Nick Powills

What to Implement in 2026 According to 2025 Franchisee Surveys

2026-franchise-growth-strategies

The Ultimate Guide to Franchising Your Business — Phase 2: Creating the Franchise System — How to Build a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)

the-ultimate-guide-to-franchising-your-business-phase-2-creating-the-franchise-system-how-to-build-a-franchise-disclosure-document-fdd

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

AI-related job cuts, October U.S. job cuts, American job cut record

AI-Fueled Layoffs Reshape the U.S. Job Market — And Highlight Franchising’s Resilience

A Conversation With: Author, Speaker and Decision Strategist Annie Duke

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS