Death By PowerPoint Isn’t Just a Joke - It’s a Franchisee Performance Killer
- jantimms3
- May 2
- 7 min read
Updated: May 5
You know the drill: slide after slide, packed with bullet points, delivered to a silent room. Heads nod (some from agreement, others from sheer exhaustion). You finish your presentation, tick the “training delivered” box… and wait for the magic to happen.
But nothing changes.
Franchisees go back to business as usual. They don’t apply what they learned. They don’t take action. And your initiative, however well-intentioned, gets shelved with all the others.
Here’s the truth: Learning isn’t about what’s taught, it’s about what sticks.
And when your training is overloaded with information but underpowered on implementation, you’re not educating. You’re overwhelming.
This blog is your antidote. We’ll explore how to transform slide-heavy sessions into action-driving experiences, so your training doesn’t just inform, it ignites change.
The Problem – Why Slide-Based Training Fails
It looks polished. It sounds professional. It’s delivered with confidence. So why doesn’t it work?
Because presenting slides isn’t the same as enabling learning.
In franchise networks, we often assume that if we say it, they’ll do it. But that’s not how real learning works. Franchisees aren’t failing to perform because they didn’t attend the training. They’re failing to perform because the training didn’t stick.
Here’s what the data tells us:
40% of learners fail to transfer what they’ve learned into the workplace
70% stop applying what they learned within just 12 months
And only 50% of training investment actually improves business performance
That means half your training budget might be buying activity, not outcomes.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a franchisee problem. It’s a training design problem.
Too many sessions focus on delivering content instead of designing change. And that’s especially dangerous in franchising, where:
Every minute of distraction costs money
Every disengaged franchisee erodes system consistency
Every failed initiative chips away at trust and credibility
Slide-heavy sessions might check your compliance box, but they won’t move the needle. Because passive learning leads to passive behaviour and passive behaviour doesn’t build thriving franchisees.
Learning Must Lead to Action - or It’s a Waste
In franchising, training isn’t the endgame - performance is.
You’re not just educating for the sake of knowledge. You’re educating to change behaviours that lift results, drive consistency, and unlock growth.
So here’s the golden rule:
If your training doesn’t lead to action, it didn’t work.
The illusion of learning is one of the most expensive traps a franchisor can fall into. Just because someone attended the session, filled in the workbook, and gave it a thumbs up in the feedback form doesn’t mean anything actually changed.
Knowledge without action is shelfware.
In high-performing franchise systems, training is never designed in isolation. It’s: ✅ Tied to a strategic business need ✅ Built with the end behaviour in mind ✅ Reinforced with support, accountability, and tools that make application inevitable |
Because here’s the reality:
A brilliant idea on slide 18 is useless if no one applies it.
A confident trainer at the front of the room doesn’t guarantee franchisee growth.
A packed workshop means nothing if franchisees return to business as usual.
Franchisees don’t need more content. They need clarity on what to do, how to do it, and support to follow through.
When action is the benchmark, everything about how you train changes. You stop asking “Did they understand it?” and start asking “Are they doing it?”
And that’s where transformation begins.
From Slide Decks to Change Engines: What Real Learning Looks Like
Here’s a radical idea: what if you scrapped the slide deck entirely?
One of my franchise clients did exactly that - after receiving scathing feedback about "death by PowerPoint" from the previous year’s event, they decided to ban slides for their entire conference.
That’s right. Three full days. Not a single slide. And guess what? It was one of their highest-rated and most impactful conferences ever.
So what did they do instead?
1. Interactive Learning Activities
Instead of presenting information, they created experiences. Franchisees worked through scenarios, solved real challenges in teams, and applied core concepts through structured activities, not passive listening. |
✅ Think simulations, “choose-your-own-path” exercises, or group problem-solving sprints. |
2. Roundtable Discussions
Small group discussions around key business challenges created space for peer learning, candid insight-sharing, and localised application of broader strategies. |
✅ Assign a facilitator to each table. Provide structured questions. Share key insights across the room. |
3. Franchisee Panels
They swapped theory for real voices from the network. Top-performing franchisees shared their strategies, missteps, and mindset shifts, creating relatability and practical learning. |
✅ Panels drive engagement because they’re unscripted and rooted in lived experience. |
4. Team Building Challenges
Franchisees were split into cross-regional groups for collaborative challenges that focused on leadership, communication, and creative thinking - reinforcing the idea that growth is a team sport. |
✅ Don’t underestimate the learning power of a fun, low-stakes competitive challenge. |
5. Implementation Labs
Instead of ending on inspiration, the event ended with application. Franchisees worked in groups to build action plans based on what they’d learned - then shared them for feedback. |
✅ Bonus: Those plans became the starting point for follow-up coaching and support. |
The Point?
PowerPoint isn’t evil. But it becomes a problem when it dominates, when it becomes a crutch for the presenter instead of a catalyst for the learner.
Real learning happens when people:
Engage with content
Connect with peers
Reflect on their context
Commit to action
And none of that requires a slide deck.
Rethinking Your Own Approach - 5 Questions to Ask Before Your Next Session
Today’s franchisees don’t want to be “trained” - they want to be equipped, supported, and empowered to act. That means moving from presentation to participation, and from telling to facilitating action.
If your training sessions still revolve around long slide decks, passive audiences, and presenters doing most of the talking, it’s time to stop and rethink.
Because what today’s franchisees really need isn’t another training session - They need a knowledge-sharing forum that drives engagement, action, and results.
And that starts with a mindset shift:
From "I need to deliver training…” to "I need to facilitate learning that changes behaviour.”
Whether it’s a field visit, a training session, a franchise meeting or a national conference, use these 5 questions to challenge your current approach and reimagine your impact:
1. What do I want franchisees to do differently after this session?
Be specific. If your answer is “understand X,” you’re not going far enough. Aim for a behaviour shift - a clear action they’ll take back into the business.
For example, instead of saying “I want them to understand the new lead follow-up process,” say “I want them to adopt a same-day follow-up routine for every new lead.”
Practical Tip:End the session by asking each participant to commit to one change they’ll implement this week and schedule a follow-up touchpoint to check progress. |
2. Could this be a discussion or activity instead of a presentation?
If your message can be read off a slide, it doesn’t need to be said aloud. Ask: how can I get franchisees to explore this idea for themselves through reflection, collaboration, or problem-solving?
For example, instead of presenting slides on customer experience best practices, run a “Customer from Hell” workshop where franchisees share horror stories, diagnose what went wrong, and co-create solutions.
Practical Tip:Use flip charts, breakout groups or scenario-based challenges. Create “learning by doing,” not “learning by watching.” |
3. Are franchisees learning from me, or from each other?
Often, the most impactful insights come from peer stories, shared struggles, and real-world examples. Facilitate knowledge-sharing instead of dominating the airtime.
For example, rather than delivering a one-way sales skills session, organise a peer panel of top franchisees to share real tactics, followed by table discussions where others identify what they could adopt or adapt.
Practical Tip:Use live polls or roundtable format to give every voice a platform. Assign table leaders or topic cards to guide discussion. |
4. Have I created space for reflection and application?
Learning without time to think, apply, and commit fades fast. Build in moments where franchisees can pause, personalise, and create their “what I’ll do next” list.
For example, after introducing a new initiative, instead of jumping into Q&A, ask: “How would this work in your business? What might get in the way? Who would you need to involve?”
Practical Tip:Use a simple worksheet with three prompts:
|
Let participants fill it out before they leave.
5. How will I know it worked?
Attendance isn’t a result. Nor is “positive feedback.” Look for evidence of changed behaviour, improved performance, or stronger engagement and build follow-up mechanisms that reinforce and measure impact.
For example, don’t rely on workshop feedback forms. Track KPIs like adoption rates, revenue lift, campaign participation, or behaviour change within 30, 60, or 90 days.
Practical Tip:Send a post-training follow-up survey with two key questions:
And build those results into your field coaching or network scorecards. |
When you shift from a “present and hope” mindset to a facilitate and follow through approach, training becomes a lever for lasting franchisee performance, not just another item on the calendar.
Remember:
The best sessions don’t just transfer knowledge - they build capability and confidence. They spark movement, not just motivation.
Conclusion: It’s Not About Banning Slides -It’s About Using Them with Purpose
Let me be clear - I’m not saying you should never use slides. In fact, when used strategically, a great visual can enhance engagement, spark curiosity, or reinforce a core concept.
But here’s the litmus test: If your training slides vanished tomorrow, would your session still work?
If the answer is no, you don’t have a training session - you have a slide reading session. And your franchisees deserve more than that.
✅ Use slides sparingly
✅ Use them to support learning not to drive it
✅ Keep text minimal, visuals strong, and interaction front and centre
✅ Design your sessions so the real value comes from the conversations, collaboration, and application of ideas - not from what’s projected on a screen
Because when franchisees experience learning that’s active, relevant, and grounded in their day-to-day reality - that’s when real behaviour change starts.
Are You Ready to Build Franchisee Learning That Sticks?
If you're serious about lifting franchisee results and designing training that drives action - the Franchise Growth Bundle is a great place to start.
This isn’t just a collection of resources - it’s a launchpad for purpose-led franchise leadership.
You’ll get:
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Stop presenting. Start transforming! 👉 Download your Franchise Growth Bundle and Success Diagnostic here
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