Tag Archives: leadership in family businesses

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equal is not fair

Equal Is Not Fair (And It’s Quietly Destroying Family Businesses)

In family businesses, few ideas are as emotionally appealing—and as dangerous—as the belief that “equal is fair.” It sounds reasonable. It feels just. And in many families, it’s the default starting point for ownership, inheritance, and decision-making. But when you move from the dinner ta...
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family business successors

What Family Business Successors Really Need (That No One Talks About)

There’s no shortage of advice for family business successors. Take more responsibility. Earn respect. Prove yourself. Grow the business.   But almost none of that advice addresses what’s actually happening beneath the surface. Because stepping into a family business isn’t just a leadershi...
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los angeles

Is Los Angeles a Family Business City? You Bet It Is!

In the past, when I thought of family businesses, I tended to think more readily of Midwest agricultural farms and manufacturing companies, and of those wholesome family values. It is a common perception that the Midwest is the “heartland” of family businesses, and the data supports this...
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distinctive leadership

From Doubt to Distinctive Leadership: A Next-Gen Success Story in the Making

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with dozens of rising leaders in family businesses. While each story is unique, three challenges come up again and again:   Imposter Syndrome – “Do they really see me as a leader, or just the founder’s kid?” Blurred Boundaries – When...
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lead the family business

If You’re Next in Line to Lead the Family Business, Read This

Stepping in to lead the family business rarely feels as straightforward as people expect.   On paper, it may look like a natural progression. You’ve grown up around the business. You understand its history. You care deeply about what’s been built.   However, when it’s time to step in...
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How to Have Difficult Conversations with Family Members in the Business

Recently I was coaching one of the owners of a mid-size company who was having issues with his brother on some thorny issues around compensation, their roles in the business, and the time spent working IN the business. After spending an hour or more listening to him vent his frustrations, I moved to...
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