The ROI of Reconciliation
At least 1 in 4 American adults is estranged from a close relative. Estrangement imposes steep costs in terms of emotional states and mental health. Added to those costs in business-owning families is often an additional cost to business operations. “The implications of family business disputes extend beyond individual relationships. They can affect the business’s […]
When Family Meetings Are Scary
It’s October, and Halloween is approaching like midnight footsteps in the hall. This post stirs a bubbling cauldron of family business fears, worries, and anxiety. Rising with the reeking vapors from the foul potion comes – oh no! The Family Meeting. By “family meeting,” we refer to anything from a half-day gathering to multiday family […]
Three Family Business PAIN POINTS We Address
Relieving Suffering in the Family Business Behind the polished facades of successful family businesses lies a hidden reality: profound suffering that money cannot solve. To the uninitiated, it may seem ludicrous to speak of suffering in the family business. Because from the outside looking in, business families can seem like models of success, fulfillment, and […]
Family Businesses Thrive by Managing Polarities
Growth and strength result from a balanced pursuit of paradoxical aims ‘Frustrating, Complicated, and Apparently Impossible’ Leading a family business is no easy feat. The challenges can often feel insurmountable. As an experienced family business consultant recently remarked, clients’ situations are “tales of human beings entangled in frustrating, complicated, and apparently impossible dilemmas with many […]
Improve Communication by Building Trust
In a family business, communication isn’t just important—it’s everything. But without trust, the lines of communication narrow fast. This blog explores key attributes that build trust in family enterprises—Consistency, Competence, Commitment, and Character—and offers practical steps for earning a seat at the communication table.
Defining Acceptance in Family Businesses: How it Can Solve & Prevent Conflict
The promise and pitfalls of family business are both related to the overlapping spheres of family and business.
The Value of Professional Facilitation
Professional facilitation for family meetings is an investment in family harmony and future business results.