Making Sense of Family Business

Cause #09 In this episode, I talk about how the conflicting needs and interests of individuals, families and family businesses can, at different times, be a powerful cause of conflict in both the family and the business …. and explain what you can do to minimise their impact.

Cause #08 In this episode, I talk about the four parenting styles that can contribute to the many forms of conflict that arise in family business; explore how and why understanding a family’s history can help to identify the root causes of many family business conflicts …. and explain what you can do about it.

Cause #07 In this episode, I talk about the conflicts that arise when dysfunctional personalities & disruptive behaviours impact family relations and business operations …. and explain what you can do to minimise their impact.

Cause #06 In this episode, we talk about the challenges of 'fossilised leaders' in family business. A concept introduced by Jon around 15 years ago which describes leaders that are resistant to change. We discuss what causes it, how to spot it, how to respond to it, and most importantly, how to prevent it from happening.

Cause #05 In this episode, we focus on broken promises and unmet expectations, emphasising that most conflicts stem from relational issues rather than financial ones. Categorising family members in business into three types: rebels, resenters, and submitters, each reacting differently to conflicts and unmet expectations.

Cause #04 This episode talks about how and why different life stages create unavoidable tensions between different generations of family members working in a family business, as their personal and professional needs come into fierce competition at different times in their lives. I also provide practical suggestions for what to do about it.

Cause #03 In this episode, we focus on narcissism as a significant factor in succession issues. Defining narcissism as a personality trait characterised by self-centeredness and a lack of empathy, explaining its evolutionary roots and how it manifests in varying degrees from healthy to grandiose narcissism.

Cause #02 In this episode, we explore the inherent conflicts between family dynamics and business operations, positing that emotional relational issues, rather than financial ones, are often the root causes of these conflicts.

Cause #01 In this episode, we talk about the differences that can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts that have deep roots in family dynamics, and how stresses that resolving these conflicts requires understanding the personalities involved and their impacts on behavior.

Thanks for stopping by, I'm Jon Kenfield, the host of the Family Business Challenge series: "Family Business" ... makes no sense! In this series, I'll be tackling 51 individual causes that affect Family Businesses. Focusing on family conflict - a primary cause of family business failure - where either the family, the business, or both, fail. I share my learnings from almost 3 decades of working as...