When family-owned companies—where ownership and management often overlap—face years of weak results, rising debt and tight cash flows, owner families have little choice but to act. Focusing on the business is a common trap—the real issue often lies within the owning family. Key causes include: A lack of strategic thinking and a clear long-term vision […]
When meritocracy meets bloodlines: the family business succession trap
Our next CEO will be chosen based on capability. We’re professionalizing our leadership. In our company, board seats are earned. Statements like these are common in the realm of family-owned firms, signalling how strongly they value the language of merit. Yet the lived reality often tells a different story: appointments seem predetermined, performance standards become […]
3 insights to enhance family dynamics
A father and daughter sit in a boardroom. He believes he’s giving her sound advice; she hears only criticism. Across the table, what could be a constructive dialogue turns into stony silence and simmering resentment. Scenarios like this play out every day in family firms, where conversations carry multiple layers of meaning. Running a family […]
Family members in leadership roles: when emotions eclipse meritocracy
The roles that family members want, can and should play in the family business is a central issue that firms need to address as they evolve and new generations enter their leadership ranks. Yet emotions can blur objectivity and unduly influence the decision-making process. Emotions can also run high in families, which makes decisions in […]