Starbuck Academy · Grow
Franchise Leader Pathway: Field Leader
From inspecting franchisees to coaching them
A practical online programme for the people who support franchisees. Ten short video lessons on coaching owners, influencing without authority, business review visits that franchisees value and handling compliance fairly.
Written for franchising from the first lesson
Franchise leaders face pressures that general management training does not cover. Every lesson starts from their day-to-day reality, and every lesson ends with something to do at work that week. The programme finishes with a franchisee support plan for your patch.
Who it is for
Franchisor area managers, franchise business consultants and regional leads who support franchisees, and who have to raise standards and performance without line authority over owners.
What you will be able to do
By the end of this programme you will be able to:
- Balance your roles as partner, coach and guardian of the brand with each franchisee
- Understand what drives franchisees and influence them without formal authority
- Plan and run business review visits that lead to agreed action
- Coach franchise owners through conversations about performance and numbers
- Handle slipping standards and difficult or emotional conversations fairly and consistently
- Lead a patch remotely and build a stronger, more connected franchise network
Ten lessons
Partner, Coach and Guardian
Field leaders stand between the franchisor and the franchisees, and the health of the network depends on how well they do it.
Understanding the Franchisee
Franchisees are business owners who have chosen to run someone else’s system.
Influence Without Authority
Field leaders are responsible for results they cannot directly control, with owners they cannot instruct.
The Business Review Visit
The site visit is where most of a field leader’s work happens.
Coaching Conversations With Owners
Many field leaders are natural problem solvers, but always giving the answer creates dependency.
Talking Numbers Together
Numbers are at the heart of every franchise business and one of the most sensitive topics between field leaders and franchisees.
When Standards Slip
Part of the field role is guarding the brand.
Difficult and Emotional Conversations
Because franchisees have so much invested, conversations can become emotional quickly.
Leading a Patch Remotely
Most field leaders look after many franchisees across a wide area, with much of the contact happening remotely.
Building a Stronger Network
The final lesson looks at one of the most powerful things a field leader can do: connect franchisees with each other so the whole network learns faster.
What is included
Ten short video lessons you can watch on any device, a workbook page and a practical task for every lesson, a five-question knowledge check per lesson, a certificate of completion showing 10 estimated learning hours, and 12 months’ access. Optional live group coaching with Starbuck coaches, the Leadership Diagnostic and a network report are available for franchisors rolling the programme out across their estate.
How your learning time adds up
Your 10 estimated learning hours are made up across ten lessons of about an hour each:
- Watching the ten lesson videos: about 50 minutes (about 5 minutes each)
- Reading the lesson notes and completing the workbook page: about 4 hours 10 minutes (25 minutes each)
- Planning and carrying out each weekly workplace task: about 4 hours 10 minutes (25 minutes each)
- Completing the five-question knowledge check after each lesson: about 50 minutes (5 minutes each)
Total: 10 estimated learning hours.
Knowledge checks: every lesson or module ends with a short multiple choice knowledge check. The pass mark is 80% and you can retake a knowledge check as many times as you need.
Who designed it
This programme was designed by ICF credentialed coaches at Starbuck & Associates, led by Paul Starbuck, our Founder and CEO and an ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC). Every lesson draws on our coaching and leadership development work with organisations in the UK, Europe and around the world, and each programme is reviewed regularly to keep it current.
Before you start
Some lessons touch on performance, conduct and compliance. They teach conversation skills only. Always follow your own employer’s or franchisor’s policies, and take HR, legal or financial advice on formal matters. This programme is general learning and development content and is not professional advice.
