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Family Dynamics and Relationship Enhancement
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Family Relationships
Sibling rivalry must be recognized, understood and addressed for successful succession. Related issues may be based on gender, age or differing abilities--issues that may have a long history in the family.
According to Larry Cooper, chairman of the Next Generation Committee of the Association of Independent Corrugated Converters: "Think about the business first. Think about what the future holds, and think about who's best equipped to run that business and make a profit, and continue its growth the way the founder envisions it."
If there is a family culture of respect and fairness, then the chances of success are much greater. Similarly, disrespect and resentment hinder the chances of success... READ MORE
Can family ties bind too tightly?
Family bonds can be a blessing and a curse. These bonds make it possible for a start-up family business to have a great advantage. Spouses and children work endless hours for little or no money to build the business and to improve the family circumstances. Even in a mature business the degree of cooperation, hard work, and loyalty in some families can provide a large competitive edge... READ MORE
Real peace takes balance
In the ancient world, there were two notions of peace. One was the Pax Romana, an imposed peace that was predicated on the idea that a powerful nation keeps the world calm by dictating rules for the less powerful nations over which it reigns. It created a peaceful world that allowed commerce, art, literature and religion to develop and flourish. Pax Romana was a system by which the world has lived to the present day with balance of power between the nations and suzerainty over less powerful neighbors.
The Bible puts forth a different ideal. The Biblical word for peace is shalom which comes from a root meaning complete or whole. According to this idea, peace results from the parts being satisfied, being in a relationship with each other that causes a sense of balance and completeness... READ MORE
"Truth loss" causes damage
In business there are many opportunities to be honest, and just as many opportunities not to be. The temptation to tell untruths is enormous because there is money involved. It is tempting to tell a customer that you can do something you may not be able to. It's sometimes a struggle not to tell employees that things are better than they are... READ MORE
Let your children know you, have a better relationship
I wrote my doctoral dissertation, 25 years ago, on self disclosure. The question in my mind was "Why do many adolescents and young adults stop talking openly with their parents?" I thought it might be because parents are not open about themselves to their children. As we approach adulthood we become unwilling to make ourselves vulnerable unless it's with someone who is vulnerable back... READ MORE
Love teaches us more than anger
A few years ago I read a story in the New York Times Magazine by Mel Lazarus titled "Angry Fathers." Lazarus recalled an incident that occurred when he was nine years old and spending the summer at a Catskill resort. At the time, 1938, mothers and children spent the summer, and fathers came up for the weekends... READ MORE
New attitudes foster productive ideas
In a family business that includes at least two generations, there is frequently conflict over new ideas. The younger generation wants change, innovation and risk. The older generation wants to conserve, use tried and true methods and minimize risk.
History is full of examples of companies that failed because the next generation risked too much. Companies have also failed when they did not change and adapt to the times... READ MORE
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