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Family Business is an Oxymoron Part 2 - Unpack Your Bags
September 10, 2008
Most family businesses are out of balance in one direction or the other. Achieving balance is a key component to being able to achieve ongoing success of the business. Another key factor is for all family members involved in the business to individually and collectively evaluate and understand the baggage that has been packed for the journey.
Unpack Your Bags
When family relationship issues rear their ugly heads in the business, accountability of family and non-family employees often becomes dramatically complicated. Individuals, who come into business together, naturally bring their relational baggage with them. And they bring it into an environment that is naturally contradictory to itself, which will put the “fun” in dysfunctional. Understand your individual baggage and take personal responsibility for dealing with it. It is only when you are healthy and whole that you will be able to relate to others in a healthy and whole fashion.
Because success in a family business can be described in many diverse terms, classic business success adjectives such as profitability and value may mask dysfunctional, or at least less than desirable, family relationship issues. Issues get swept under the rug, and an underlying hope is developed that they don’t really exist.
No amount of ignoring family challenges will make them go away; just as ignoring the sun doesn’t make it stop shining. There is often an “elephant in the living room” that no one wants to really acknowledge. At some point, the elephant will make his presence undeniably known; and you better hope you can successfully maneuver to avoid being trampled.
If you acknowledge that there is an elephant in the living room but simply don’t know what to do about it, then humble yourself and first seek the input of your family members. It is true that families who can communicate together about the family baggage find a much easier time resolving the issues and minimize the impact on the business. If your family just can’t get there on your own, then don’t hesitate to seek help from a professional.
Posted by Jeff Faulkner on September 10, 2008 | Comments (0)
