“What if I don’t like my family members? I often encounter this question:  What happens if I just don’t like my family members? I understand that we’re human, and it’s not always easy to like each other. However, consider this – what if you love each other? What if you respect each other? What if you treat each other like decent human beings? We don’t always like our family, but we should respect them, love them, and try to support them in having a life that they can appreciate. Teaching us all to work together is crucial. Maybe liking each other is a little bit overrated. Look, it’s a bo ..read more

Try this on. Be personable. It’s that simple. Like any skill, it takes practice and a commitment to make it happen. In case you haven’t noticed, there is a higher than normal amount of stress and anxiety in this modern, social media-driven, polarized world. One thing that would help everyone would be if we could be more personable with each other. Energy is contagious. When you act more personable, it automatically helps others do the same. Being personable doesn’t have to mean you agree with everything the other people are saying or doing. What it does mean is that you have the emotional matu ..read more

We all experience moments of hurt feelings from time to time, which is natural and even healthy. The issue arises when we find ourselves in a state of lingering anger, resentment, or unfriendliness. Not being friendly can become problematic for the entire family or your non-family employees. Poor attitudes and harsh words can cause lasting damage to everyone involved. It’s important to accept the fact that in a family business there will be different opinions, ideas, and perspectives. Learning to navigate through these differences, without becoming cynical, is crucial for maintaining a healthy ..read more

After two decades of working closely with families, I have frequently observed a few key ingredients that are often missing when it comes to creating a stronger and more cohesive family unit. Practice a Warm Heart, Open Mind and Curiosity A warm heart, an open mind, and curiosity – these may seem like simple attributes, but as family members, we often find ourselves entangled in our own narratives, histories, and sibling rivalries. As human beings, we function as open loop systems, which means we tend to mirror the emotional energy present in our surroundings. If there’s anger, suspicion, or c ..read more

There are numerous metrics to gauge success in a family business. The most apparent ones include: Profitability Market share Retained earnings Cash flow However, at times, it’s the intangible measures that can induce the most stress. Over the years, I’ve developed a system to assist families in assessing crucial key outcomes. Remember, a 20-year research project conclusively demonstrated that success stems not from innate talent, but from intentional practices. One of these deliberate practices is consistently evaluating everyone’s personal and professional contentment. As part of our system ..read more

Some people seem to be having a hard time taking personal responsibility for their results. I’m not sure why that is happening but it seems to be more prevalent than ever on today’s business teams. It’s your job as a leader to help create the environment where everyone takes responsibility for their personal results. I think learning to be a “coaching leader” is one of the most natural and effective ways to lead. In the companies where I get to be the company coach, I keep looking for ways to ignite the spark of personal responsibility in everyone.  To be a successful leader in today’s bu ..read more

Working alongside your father in a family business can be a unique and rewarding experience. It offers the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to a shared legacy. However, this collaboration also presents its fair share of challenges. Learning to navigate these obstacles requires patience, acceptance, and a deep respect for one another, ultimately fostering family harmony and ensuring the success of the business. Challenges One of the most significant challenges when working with your father is finding the balance between the roles of parent and colleague. The dynamics that exist within ..read more

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