War and Peace in the Family Business
Years ago I facilitated a family business meeting in which two of the ownerbrothers started yelling at one another, then stood up, got in each other's face and almost threw punches. While probably...
Conflict Resolution and Communication in Family Business
Advice for an Amicable Breakup
November 18, 2011
If you follow any of my past articles, you'll see that I seem predisposed to keeping the family business intact. Sometimes, however, it seems too difficult to keep it together. Family history,...
The Consequences of Unresolved Conflict
October 18, 2011
While working on the family farm one summer, my grandmother asked me why our family -- meaning my father and his siblings -- couldn't get along like the family who lived up the road from our ranch. I...
Creating More Certainty in the Family Business
August 18, 2011
Benjamin Franklin said that the only things certain in life are death and taxes. In family businesses -- especially those in agriculture -- there is often much uncertainty: the weather, the markets,...
In-Laws by Marriage, Out-Laws in Business?
July 18, 2011
It seems that every family business has a belief about in-laws and their participation in the family business. Some welcome the in-laws into the operation. Some don't include in-laws in operational...
How to Talk to Your Kids
April 18, 2011
As a parent of three young children, I often wonder about the best way to communicate with my kids. How best to reason with them? How best to get their attention? How best to get them to listen to me...
Getting the Family Business Unstuck
March 18, 2011
Some of the most common frustrations are related to ownership transitions.
Start the Conversation
February 18, 2011
This time of year can be a great time for family business conversations. The pace is slower, there are opportunities to travel together to industry meetings, and people are generally thinking about...