Franchise Leadership as a Strategy: Transforming Franchisees into Leaders

In this episode of the Franchise Advisory Board podcast, Dave Hansen sits down with Stephane Breault — 40-year franchising veteran, leadership expert, and founder of Imagine Franchise Consulting. Stephane shares his insights on building leadership, trust, and connection in franchise systems, why franchisors must take 100% responsibility for franchisee results, and how rituals and alignment meetings can strengthen culture across growing networks.

Together, Dave and Stephane unpack the building blocks of franchise leadership: developing competent teams, fostering authentic connections, and cultivating trust at every level. They also dive into practical strategies for executive alignment, field coaching, and avoiding costly leadership mistakes while scaling your franchise brand.

Huge thanks to ClientTether, our episode sponsor. Their CRM and lead-nurturing platform helps franchise brands accelerate conversions and deepen relationships without the manual mess.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

The three pillars of franchise leadership: competence, connection, and trust

How rituals and alignment meetings create culture, cohesion, and buy-in

Why field coaching and leadership development are essential for franchisee success

How to rebuild trust when franchisee-franchisor relationships have eroded

The importance of hiring and investing in the right executive team

Practical steps to transform franchise representatives into performance coaches

Episode Highlights:

Stephane’s approach to responsible leadership and accountability

Human connection over technology: why face-to-face engagement matters

Building trust with rituals, town halls, and alignment strategies

Lessons on patience, field experience, and executive onboarding

Avoiding mediocrity and fostering a high-performing franchise culture

If you want actionable ideas for building leadership, trust, and performance in your franchise system, this episode is full of real-world guidance.

Connect with Stephane Breault:
🔗 LinkedIn: Stephane Breault
🔗 Website: imaginefranchise.com

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