Overall Results (score 72)

Based on his scores, John seems like a person who has few major obstacles to overcome before fitting comfortably into the role of franchisee. Read his specific results to identify any impediments he does face. Ideally entrepreneurs have good people skills, can adjust to changes in the business climate, and possess excellent organizational, business, and management skills. They also need to be independent, disciplined and find motivation beyond simple financial compensation and status. Franchisees in particular also need to be willing to contribute to the company as a whole and follow the rules and regulations that have been established.

Management Skills (score 52)

While John had an acceptable score on the management skills section of this assessment, there is plenty of room for improvement. He possesses some of the traits that make up a well-rounded and capable leader, but others need improvement. Excellent managers are capable of bringing the best out of subordinates, and possess the relevant knowledge about how to staff their place of business in a way that adheres to legal and ethical issues.

Leading (score 49)

John appears to have leadership potential, but he has work to do if his goal is to become an exemplary leader. Leadership involves many diverse skills and characteristics, some of which are more obvious than others. If he has come to the conclusion that he would rather follow than lead, these results may not be disappointing for him. Not everyone wants to be a leader, and every member of a team plays a unique and essential role. Without followers, work cannot be accomplished and there is no hope for order. If, on the other hand, he is interested in improving his leadership skills, he appears to be heading in the right direction. It is possible, after all, to learn more of the techniques that go into leadership and put them into practice until they become second nature. While some people naturally become the head of the pack, others emerge as great leaders after years of hard work and dedication.

Staffing (score 71)

It appears that John is quite knowledgeable about the hiring and training process, although he may need to update his understanding in one or two areas. Without excellent training, employers can make costly and even illegal mistakes. If he feels it is necessary, John may want to seek out more information on this topic in order to be better prepared to run a business.

Comfort with Change (score 54)

Based on his responses to this test, John appears to be somewhat capable of “rolling with the punches” and dealing with what life throws at him, but he might sometimes struggle to adjust. Any entrepreneur, including a franchisee, needs to be capable of making adjustments and altering plans when the situation calls for it. In the ever-changing business world, it is the people who successfully adapt that manage to make it in the long-term. With a willingness to learn new strategies, an adaptable nature, and a desire to be innovative, these people are at a great advantage over other, less resilient individuals.

Adaptability (score 58)

John is somewhat amenable to change. He is often willing to adapt his plans based on new information, and is fairly flexible with new people and situations. It is essential that any business owner be capable of going with the flow and adjusting to changes in the business climate. When life throws John for a loop, he needs to be consistently capable of making the necessary adjustments to survive and even thrive.

Innovation (score 60)

In the day-to-day life of running any business, one encounters problems and obstacles that need to be overcome in order to move forward. Trying to solve these problems with the same approach over and over just leads to frustration and stagnancy. Instead, one should try different approaches and try to think outside the box in order to come up with innovative solutions. John appears to be capable of coming up with imaginative ideas for dealing with issues that arise. On some occasions he may prefer to use existing techniques or methods rather than coming up with something unique, but this appears to be rare. No doubt, he will find that when he does come up with a new solution to a repetitive problem, he will ultimately be more successful.

Interest in Knowledge (score 44)

John is informed about the world to a degree. While he has at least surface knowledge of many topics, he probably has an area or two of expertise. He may not always pursue further information on a given topic, but he does enjoy adding to his "fountain" of knowledge. He can appreciate concepts and complex ideas, and is often content to learn about topics that cross his path. A franchisee must be willing to learn new things and seek out information that may be of assistance when running a business. Without this drive, a person may find his or her existing knowledge base is not enough to be successful.

Work Ethic (score 71)

John appears to have a fairly good work ethic, and his behavior will likely set a high standard for his team. A franchisee should have passion for his or her job, and a strong desire to accomplish his or her goals. Those who are hard-working, perseverant, and conscientious about their work, as well as rule-abiding, are most likely to succeed. If the management and owner of an establishment makes sure to set an example of excellence and discipline, the employees are much more likely to follow.

Conscientiousness (score 79)

John is a fairly reliable, disciplined and careful individual. People who, like him, score high in conscientiousness are orderly, rational, and focused. They have high standards and rarely fail to meet them. High scorers in conscientiousness are hardworking, productive, and goal-oriented. They are generally rule-abiding and cautious, and rarely careless. A natural tendency towards being responsible, organized and rule-abiding has been shown to be predictive of success in a variety of areas, particularly when it comes to owning one’s own business.

Goal-orientation (score 96)

John tends to set many goals, both long and short term. As a result, he knows what he wants to achieve and can set clear objectives to help him achieve the necessary steps along the way. Employees under his charge would likely be fully aware of what they should be striving for. This is good because people need both short-term and long-term goals in order to feel motivated to achieve. They also need to feel inspired enough to stick to the task and follow-through to completion.

Passion (score 88)

John appears to have great passion and enthusiasm for his work. To be an owner of a business, one needs to be able to find something to get excited about in even the most mundane tasks. Franchise owners who lack energy and tend to be unenthusiastic are in for trouble. After all, the owner of a franchise should set an example for employees, and this can play a major role in setting the tone of the work environment.

Adherence to Rules (score 37)

John's responses indicate that he is not really a rule-abiding individual – he often feels the urge to bend or even break rules. Perhaps breaking rules gives him a thrill, or he gets frustrated with the extra time and effort it takes to follow them. Maybe he feels frustrated when constrained by rules and regulations. This means that he might not always be comfortable adhering to the rules established by the home office of a franchise. Remember, however, that he cannot expect to thrive as a franchisee if he cannot act in accordance with the policies and regulations established for doing business.

Comfort with Sharing Costs and Profits (score 30)

John is fairly uncomfortable with the idea of sharing profits with the parent company. He needs to remember that by utilizing the name of the franchise, he is profiting from it. Owning a franchise is less risky than opening his own business from scratch. If this truly bothers him, he might want to reconsider this career option.

Drive and Ambition (score 94)

John is constantly striving for perfection, achievement and improvement. He refuses to accept the status quo, and believes that any situation, no matter how good, could always be better. He is willing to work hard to effect change and strives to do his best in every situation and challenge. This is great news, as people who own their own business cannot afford to be passive – those who succeed in getting to the top are motivated and consistently strive to do their best.

Calculated Risk-Taking (score 63)

An entrepreneur needs to be comfortable with the idea of taking chances. Not only is the act of starting a business a risk in-and-of-itself, but it also often requires taking chances on a regular basis in order to stand out among competitors. However, just because one is taking a risk, it does not mean that it should be taken lightly. The best performers in this realm carefully consider their options before moving forward, and do whatever they can to plan for the worst-case scenario when they do so. John had a medium-high score in this area. It appears that he is comfortable with taking risks and/or is a calculated decision-maker.

Calculated Decision-making (score 50)

John received a medium score in risk-taking. He takes the relevant precautions for safe risk-taking, and avoids taking too many reckless chances. He has struck a healthy balance between confidence and overconfidence. What is important when taking a chance is to do all one can to minimize the potential for negative outcomes. A person who is reckless will not last too long in the business world.

Risk-Taking (score 76)

John appears to be a risk-taker. While he may occasionally prefer to opt for the safer choice rather than the risky one with a bigger payoff, the majority of the time he chooses the more uncertain option. Taking well-considered, calculated risks is key to success in the franchisee world. John needs to be comfortable with the risk of starting a business, as well as dealing with taking chances in order to achieve greater profits and seize opportunities.

People Skills (score 60)

John appears to have average people skills, and there is plenty of room for improvement. A store owner with good interpersonal skills clearly communicates what is expected and makes an effort to treat employees with respect. Moreover, even when he or she does not see eye to eye with an employee or feels that a person has not done a good job, he or she tries not to let any negative feelings shine through when communicating with this individual. Aware of issues relating to cultural sensitivity, he or she tries to prevent stereotypes from impacting how employees are treated, and makes an effort to establish a courteous environment for diverse workers. Ideally, he or she is able to remain optimistic even in difficult times, which helps keep the team going. The ability to create a positive environment in which people feel comfortable expressing ideas and opinions is indispensable. The ideal owner is approachable, sensitive and direct, and John has some, but not all of the people skills necessary for unbeatable management. Read his specific scale results to learn which areas merit improvement.

Approachability (score 59)

John is relatively approachable. He is somewhat pleasant and friendly, and people likely feel fairly comfortable coming to him for advice, help or support. While he may be grumpy or aloof on occasion, for the most part, he is liked and accepted by those around him. People who own their own business need to be approachable in order to best serve clients and to establish positive relationships with employees.

Communication Skills (score 59)

John's communication skills are average, leaving plenty of room for improvement. He scored somewhere in the middle on the communication scale - not picture perfect, but not the bottom of the barrel either. What does this mean? He is partly there - he already has some skills, and has shown the potential to master the communication process. Nevertheless, he should put some time and concentrated effort into developing the abilities he already has, and picking up a few new strategies along the way. Communication is, after all, the essence of social interaction, and it plays a large role in the impression one makes on others. It also influences self-esteem, assertiveness, and social adjustment. A business owner needs good communication skills in order to build a rapport with customers, to guide employees, and develop a good relationship with suppliers.

Cultural Sensitivity (score 63)

John appears to have a fairly good understanding of issues relating to cultural sensitivity, but there is still some room for improvement. He is generally able to establish a respectful environment where all races and cultures can thrive. There are certain legal and ethical obligations that employers have to their employees. These include not discriminating in the hiring process, giving all employees an equal chance to advance in the company, and preventing harassment in the workplace, among others. Also, customers of all cultures should be treated with respect as well as catered to in order to serve them well and also be as profitable as possible. Franchisees should be aware of the issues related to prejudice, discrimination, and cultural differences, and John is fairly knowledgeable in this area.

Optimism (score 55)

John is able to see both the good and bad side of any situation, event, or relationship. He has a realistic view of human nature and does not always expect the best from people, but he is also not surprised when the good side does appear. A pessimistic attitude can be very discouraging, as it may lead him to believe that no matter what happens or how hard he works, failure is likely. Guarding against developing such a negative attitude can prevent him from convincing himself that he is going to fail.

Community/Family Values (score 63)

John reports that his family and community are quite important to him. There is little that matters more in his life than being close with his family and contributing to the community in some meaningful way. This stance could prove beneficial if he tries to establish a franchise in his own community.

Self-Reliance (score 100)

John appears to be highly self-reliant. He does not worry too much about what others think of him, believes in his own abilities, and prefers independence over being told what to do. A franchisee must be capable of running his or her own franchise without an inordinate amount of support from the franchise company. Some companies offer more support than others, but John realizes that he will likely be making a lot of decisions on his own. Ideally, a franchisee makes decisions based on what is best for the organization, rather than on what will be the popular choice, and is confident as well as independent.

Self-efficacy (score 100)

John has a very high level of self-efficacy. He recognizes his inner value, and it shows in his professional life. He exudes confidence and believes in himself enough to pursue his goals whole-heartedly. To be an effective business owner he must trust himself and his abilities, and feel worthy of his position. He likely displays the outward confidence that inspires trust and respect from employees and customers alike.

Need for Independence (score 100)

John appears to have the highly independent streak necessary to have his own branch of a franchise. He feels much more comfortable making decisions and acting on his own than he does having someone else guide him. Part of the appeal of owning his own business is being able to call the shots. In this respect, it appears that being an entrepreneur is right career choice for him.

Need for Approval (score 0)

John has a very low need for approval from others. While he might briefly consider whether a decision or other actions will upset people, he is certainly not worried about what others think of him. He makes decisions based on what he thinks is the best choice for the organization, not whether it will be a controversial choice. He also does not refrain from criticizing others, even when he thinks they might be offended. He just needs to remember to try to be as tactful as possible when he does so.

Status-Seeking (score 100)

John appears to be driven mainly by wealth and materialism. He finds few things to be more important than achieving wealth and status. A person who is solely motivated by material goods and money probably won’t find being a business owner satisfying. It takes hard work, people skills, and financial savvy to run a business, and if the only thing driving a person is money, he or she may find that there is not enough momentum to go forward.

Suitability for a Hotel Franchise (score 54)

Based on his preferences and his personality, John appears to be a fairly good candidate to start a franchise as a hotel owner, but some issues may be a concern. People who open their own hotels need to be detail-oriented, possess excellent social skills, and be extremely focused on customer service. They also need to be able to juggle a variety of different types of activities, as being the head of a hotel encompasses so many different aspects of business. There are matters related to cleanliness, the hotel bar and restaurant, front-desk reservations and concierge services, and many, many other things to consider. John's responses indicated that he possesses some, but not all of the relevant interests and abilities needed to do well as a hotel owner.

Graphs & Charts (score 90)

John's responses indicate that he is very capable of understanding graphs and charts, and rarely runs into difficulty. When he opens a franchise, he may be able to gain insight from information provided by the company to help him improve his client’s experience and target necessary areas for improvement. He will need to identify key information from graphs and be able to recognize trends in opinions over time. He will also be required to be able to follow charts and understand their essential points and recommendations. His capability in this area may be an advantage and make him more independent than others who are not able to understand the graphs and charts.

Entrepreneurial Spirit (score 84)

Running a successful franchise certainly requires a strong business sense. Even if a place is staffed with the best employees, the success of the franchise is ultimately in the franchisee's hands. Those with an entrepreneurial spirit have the desire and the know-how to make it – and fortunately, this is one of John's top strengths. Individuals who have a strong drive to succeed and work hard, who are comfortable taking on the responsibility and risks involved in running a franchise, and who are self-starters as well as perseverant despite obstacles tend to have an advantage over those who don't.

Impression Management (score 40)

There was some indication in John's results to suggest that he was not telling the truth. His elevated score could be a result of being unique in some way (in that some of his responses were extremely rare) or he was trying to present himself in a favorable light.