Transitioning Mindsets of Laundromat Leadership
When I ventured to entrepreneurship by opening a storefront business, I thought I had fully prepared as an owner. After all, I drafted a business plan that the bank accepted, I received support from the company from whom I licensed the biz opp, and my nice shiny showroom came together as the gem of the shopping plaza.
What could I possibly have missed?
Unfortunately, I still had an employee mindset.
Sure, I had an MBA with years of experience as an executive managing people. However, business ownership demands much more of founders. Operators must morph from workers to leaders in a profound and meaningful way. All too often, I found myself again becoming just one of the staff, not just leading by example but enabling counterproductive work behaviors and hindering the growth of my workforce.
As native of Chicago’s Southwest Side, I’ve come to love blues music. I hope this short piece offers advice to help you avoid some of the mistakes I made along the way, and to help your laundry enterprise live, thrive, and survive with you as the maestro of a well-led ensemble. In other words, may these tips help you steer clear of those lowdown and dirty, mean, old business owner blues.
You Gotta Move
The journey from employee working for someone else to independent business owner not only presents significant changes in roles and responsibilities, but new business owners also require a profound shift in mindset. Laundromat owners may find this uniquely challenging, given the business’ operational demands and customer-oriented nature. The key to successfully navigating this transition lies in understanding and adopting leadership behaviors that can profoundly:
• Influence the business’ growth
• Improve the morale and self-efficacy of its workforce
• Develop future leaders who can continue the organization’s legacy
Therefore, accept that you must leave behind the employee attitude and fully embrace your leadership position boldly.
Understanding the Leadership Mindset
According to research by Kouzes and Posner – popular authors of The Leadership Challenge – leaders who adopt a growth mindset tend to engage more frequently in effective leadership behaviors than those with a fixed mindset (Kouzes & Posner, 2019). According to psychologist Carol Dweck, people with a growth mindset believe that abilities and intelligence can be developed. In contrast, those with a fixed mindset see these traits as static and unchangeable (Dweck, 2008). This finding underscores the importance of mindset in leadership effectiveness across various demographics and organizational contexts, including laundromats.
As a laundromat owner, transitioning from an employee mindset to a leadership mindset involves embracing challenges, persisting in the face of setbacks, and seeing effort as a path to mastery. It also means fostering an environment where employees feel encouraged to grow and innovate. This can really differentiate a company in an industry that may not traditionally be seen as a space for dynamic career development.
Get Your Mojo Working as an Authentic Leader
Experts agree that authenticity in leadership, particularly in smaller, newer businesses like laundromats, can provide a winning edge. Research published in Leadership & Organization Development Journal highlights that employees’ perceptions of a business founder as an authentic leader can significantly predict job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and work happiness (Jensen & Luthans, 2006). Authentic leaders demonstrate self-awareness, maintain a strong moral compass, and display transparency with their employees. For laundromat owners, this means being genuine about challenges, sharing success, and maintaining consistent values, which can inspire employee trust and loyalty.
A Spoonful of Practical Leadership Tips
Here are a few suggestions to keep away any laundromat-owner lament and to have you humming a joyful tune:
Foster a Growth-Oriented Culture
Creating a culture that prizes learning and development can help facilitate the transition from employee to owner. This could involve investing in training programs, encouraging employees to pursue certifications relevant to the business, and setting aside time for innovation and brainstorming new services or improvements. This not only raises the effectiveness of your employees, but it improves your leadership chops in the woodshed if you participate in the learning, too.
Communicate Effectively and Authentically
Organizations thrive on clear, consistent, and open communication. Regular meetings where employees can voice concerns and contribute ideas can foster a sense of belonging and community. Additionally, business owners can strive to communicate honestly about business challenges and celebrate successes to create a transparent atmosphere that values every team member’s input.
Develop a Strong Value System
Identify and articulate the core values that define your business ethos. Clearly document and communicate these values through day-to-day operations, whether it’s commitment to customer service, environmental sustainability, or community engagement. They serve as a guiding beacon for decision-making and help align your team to a common purpose. Kouzes and Posner, in The Leadership Challenge, recommend that leaders “inspire a shared vision” based on a strong system of values. Everything in your business flows from your value – your employees deliver value to the company when they align with your value system.
Empower Your Team
Empowerment is a key factor in employee satisfaction and organizational success. This could mean delegating meaningful responsibilities to team members, involving them in decision-making processes, and providing them with the tools and authority to solve problems independently. Such empowerment enhances their job satisfaction and prepares them for potential leadership roles, which is crucial for succession planning. This aligns with The Leadership Challenge’s practices of “enabling others to act” and “encouraging the heart.”
Implement Feedback Mechanisms
Constructive feedback is a cornerstone of continuous improvement. Implement systems where feedback flows both ways – leaders can provide guidance to employees, and employees can offer insights into the operations and customer service. This will help to refine strategies and improve the business continuously.
Lead by Example
Modeling the behaviors and attitudes you wish to see in your employees becomes the most powerful way to cement your status as a leader. The Leadership Challenge states that leaders must “model the way.” This includes everything from handling stress and setbacks to celebrating milestones and interacting with customers. Play your part as a leader who practices what you preach, and watch how incredibly motivated your team becomes.
The transition at the crossroads of moving from employee to business owner in the laundromat industry involves a comprehensive shift in how one views challenges, opportunities, and leadership. Laundromat owners can effectively lead their businesses toward success and sustainability by adopting a growth mindset, demonstrating authenticity, and implementing some practical and research-backed strategies to foster an empowering and value-driven environment. This enhances their entrepreneurial journey and ensures that they build a committed and satisfied team with systems that will carry the business into the future with increasing value.
References
Dweck, C. S. (2008). Mindset. Ballantine Books.
Kouzes, T., & Posner, B. (2019). Influence of managers’ mindset on leadership behavior. Leadership & Organization Development Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/lodj-03-2019-0142.
Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2017). The leadership challenge (6th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Jensen, S., & Luthans, F. (2006). Entrepreneurs as authentic leaders: impact on employees’ attitudes. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 27, 646-666. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730610709273
