5 Ways to Drive Team Engagement in Openings and Implementations

Getting people excited to complete tasks is not an easy task (see what I did there?). I’m reminded of the scene in The Breakup movie where Jennifer Aniston says to her boyfriend, Vince Vaughn, “I want you to want to do the dishes” and Vaughn replies in annoyance “why would I want to do dishes?”

I’ve shared both of their viewpoints over the years. I remind myself that strong relationships, whether personal or professional, thrive on clear communication of expectations – and when we want others to share the same sense of urgency in completing tasks as we do ourselves, sharing the “why” can be just as important as the “what”.

Here are five strategies to drive engagement and enhance your project's success so your team can start reaping the rewards of the tasks as early as possible.

1. Communicate Clearly WIIFM

When providing instructions to your locations, ensure that the tasks are articulated with enough detail. This involves not just the "what" but also the "why” I should care. In other words, What's in it for Me? This usually breaks down into a few categories— does this project help me make more money, lower expenses, improve customer intent to return, or save time? You should be able to say clearly, “if you follow these steps, we believe it will result in ___”

• Helps locations understand the importance of each project or task.
• Reduces confusion and miscommunication.
• Aligns the team with the overall objectives of the project.

Example: Instead of simply stating, "Complete attached POS Guide," explain, "Complete attached POS Guide so the POS installer has all information to ensure menu completeness and accurate pricing after cutover to new system. If this is not fully completed, then you will have to do it yourself after you go live."

2. Avoid adding tasks that don’t apply

Tailor the tasks to the specific needs and capabilities of each location. Not every task will be relevant to every location and overloading teams with unnecessary tasks can lead to disengagement and frustration.

• Ensures that each location is focused on relevant tasks.
• Prevents wastage of time and resources.
• Increases the efficiency of the implementation process.
• Reduces frustration of a location manager having to “N/A” tasks.

Example: If a location does not have a restaurant, there's no need to include tasks related to kitchen setup in their checklist. For example, in our app, we recommend a base task list that all locations must complete, and then have separate lists for optional items. When a location or implementation is created, these lists can be merged appropriately so a location only sees what applies to them.

3. Follow-Up Early and Escalate Appropriately

Monitor progress regularly and follow up early when a location, team, or responsible person falls behind. Establish a clear escalation process to address issues promptly. The most effective companies and brands we work with follow up with lagging locations very early to ensure they get back on track. This often starts from the very first task. There is a strong correlation between the first task being missed and the team missing their go-live date. Reacting early will save massive amounts of headaches later in the project.

• Keeps the project on track.
• Keeps the project on track.
• Maintains accountability among team members.
• Ensures locations that might have missed earlier communications are engaged.

Example: If a location misses a deadline, a gentle reminder can be sent initially, followed by a more formal escalation if the issue persists. Having dashboards showing all locations, status, and reports that can be pulled or emailed on regular basis are key to staying on top of multiple units or locations.

4. Make It Fun with Gamification and Competition

Incorporate elements of gamification and friendly competition to motivate and engage your teams. Leaderboards, rewards, and public recognition can significantly boost morale and productivity.

• Increases motivation and engagement.
• Fosters a sense of healthy competition.
• Recognizes and rewards hard work.

Example: Implement a leaderboard or project tracker that shows the progress of different locations and rewards the top performers with incentives.

5. Involve stakeholders before the project starts

Proper change management is crucial at the introduction of any new project, application, or implementation. Getting owners, franchisees, and location leaders involved in the process before the implementation will help ensure you gain buy-in, prepare for possible friction, and build excitement around the change.

• Reduces resistance to change.
• Increases confidence and competence in handling new tasks or tools.
• Ensures a smoother transition.

Example: Hold ‘Road Map’ meetings with key individuals with teams who will be involved in the implementation. The meeting should explain the WIIFM and allow the individuals plenty of time to comprehend the idea and offer suggestions for making it even better.

Driving location engagement in openings and implementations doesn't have to be daunting. By communicating clearly, tailoring tasks, following up effectively, making the process enjoyable, and providing solid training, you can ensure a successful and smooth implementation process.

Click here to check out our related article: Top 10 Things A Location Manager Wants In and Opening Tool.