Page 29 - BOSS Today Issue 43

DOWN TO BUSINESS – FAMILIES BOSS Today #43

“My daughter has joined the he speaks to me as if I’m still six!”
business and now I don’t know
whether I’m a boss or a parent!”

“We’re both directors, but my older brother
shows me no respect in front of employees;

or those who have just struggled “My daughter has joined the Recognising role confusion and
Fthrough a family Christmas, the business and now I don’t know setting boundaries in response is
idea of running a business with a whether I’m a boss or a parent!” vital for a family business to run
mother, father, sister or brother is “We’re both directors, but my successfully. It is important to foster
unimaginable. Yet, in the UK, 4.8m older brother shows me no respect an environment where roles can
businesses are family businesses – in front of employees; he speaks be discussed often and you may
those owned or run by one person to me as if I’m still six!” need to remind each other – with
or members of the same family. In Parent/child and sibling relationships understanding and diplomacy –
our industry, it’s not unusual for a and behaviour patterns are when confusion creeps in. For some,
dealership to be handed down to understandably deep-rooted, which having a clear policy to talk business
the next generation, managed by means they are often very difficult to in the workplace and family at home
siblings or overseen by a ‘retired’ separate from the way we act in the can be a great help. This not only
parent who likes to stay involved. workplace. Any parent knows that differentiates subject matters, it also
A family business is unique: on the they will always be a parent first, and establishes ways of communicating
one hand, sharing an investment, a treating an adult son or daughter as with each other. Having a written
purpose and values can often mean a an employee for eight hours a day Family Constitution can help navigate
level of commitment that is unrivalled can be a difficult adjustment. For many family business challenges,
by other types of organisation. On example, a father might be reluctant especially if you are going into business
the other, living and working in each to reprimand a son who arrives late to together for the first time. This can
other’s pockets can lead to everyday a business meeting that he is chairing. include rules and guidelines for staying
tensions and more serious conflicts. If he does not reprimand his son on in role, how you will work together,
Role confusion, succession planning, his lateness, he could be allowing resolve conflict, share profits, manage
inheritance, recruitment of family, a bad punctuality habit to develop. ownership and plan for the future.
share transfer, dividend policy, However, if he does speak out, the If you run a family business, let us
sibling rivalry, and motivating the son might respond in a way he never know if you’d like us to delve more
next generation are just some of the would to an ordinary boss. Similarly, into any of the above topics, or try our
issues common to family businesses we often tend to think of our siblings book recommendation, ‘You Can’t Fire
that can threaten their success. as they were when we were growing Me, I’m Your Father! What Every Family
One of the key challenges implicit up and find it difficult to break out Business Should Know’ by Neil Koenig.
in running a family business is of our established roles. Perhaps
role confusion, which is evident in your sibling was always ‘the shy one’ For more information, please contact your
the two following statements: and you tended to talk for them? BOSS HR Adviser.

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