On Leadership: Tracy Townend

Leadership--Thoughts by Tracy Townend

Puddle Ducks is an interesting business, as (currently) it is wholly owned and primarily operated by women for whom a flexible, part-time role is absolutely paramount.  Our franchisees are a team of professional women who have been solicitors, accountants and senior managers in a past life and are now dedicating their skills and expertise to running their own business but still having time for their family. 

At our franchise conference earlier this month, I had the privilege of speaking after our gala dinner.  I believe that good leadership is about consistency of values and behaviours, and as a franchisor it is important to me that all franchisees have the same values and behaviours as I do.  Only in this way can the culture of the business permeate through to all staff across the country.

I chose to quote two American essayists from the 1800’s.  The first has inspired no lesser person than Barack Obama – Ralph Waldo Emerson.  He gave this definition of success – which I suggested that we could all do worse than put above our desks:

“What is success? 
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life breathed easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.”

I proposed that of course this is a wonderful ideal that we can all strive to, but we that are all also driven by financial success - and that is our challenge. 

The second American writer that I quoted, Norman Peale, wrote:

“All successful people have a goal. No one can get anywhere unless [s]he knows where [s]he wants to go and what [s]he wants to do.”

In conclusion, I challenged all our franchisees to “choose your goal, look after the people and the world around you, and remember to enjoy the journey!”

If I am right and good leadership is about consistency of values and behaviours, I sincerely hope that my franchisees see in my behaviour a reflection of these values and that, in turn, they and their staff can find a balance in their lives, enjoy their work and feel suitably rewarded for their efforts.

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Tracy Townend is founder and director of Puddle ducks Franchising Ltd. She founded puddle Ducks with her friend and business partner Jo Stone, in 2002, and they franchised the business in 2007. Tracy graduated as a chemical engineer from Cambridge in 1992 and worked as a chartered enigneer for both ICI and Shell before leaving to have her first child. She met Jo at this time, and a year later, Puddle Ducks was hatched. Puddle Ducks offers baby and child swimming classes from birth to 12 years with an emphasis on fun, confidence and grace in the water.