“Family quarrels are bitter things. They don’t go according to any rules. They’re not like aches or wounds. They’re more like splits in the skin that won’t heal because there’s not enough material.”—F. Scott Fitzgerald

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RoLynne Hendricks

A family business can provide incredible opportunity to the founding generation and to successive generations. However, in our time consulting with family owned-and-operated dairies, we have seen many instances where the business irreparably damaged the family relationship.

This is truly unfortunate, as this does not need to be the case. Furthermore, a study conducted by the Family Business Consulting Group shows 30 percent of family businesses make it through the second generation, whereas 10 to 15 percent and 3 to 5 percent make it through the third and fourth generations, respectively.

This is a difficult statistic to deal with when so much effort has been invested in making the business successful. By understanding when to involve a business adviser, you may be able to avoid damaging conflicts and maintain the familial harmony that brings so much joy to life.

Through our experience working with dairies, we have seen many different organizations incorporating many different management styles. Although an adviser should be consulted in many instances, we would like to highlight two critical areas where it is imperative to retain an adviser.

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These are when a generation wants or needs to either join or exit the business and when there is a lack of clarity in the organization regarding the direction the organization should go and who should be in which position of leadership.

Multi-generational management

Business problems tend to begin with the founder and compound through successive generations. Entrepreneurs are risk-takers, hard workers and exhibit a disciplined dedication to all things business. Oftentimes, they sacrifice personal comforts, wants and desires to become successful.

When successive generations are brought into the business, they rarely have the same emotional attachment to the business or understand what the founder has seen, tried, experienced or suffered through.

The new generations may have ideas they are sure will revolutionize the business and make it modern and more profitable. At the same time, Dad, Mom, Grandpa or Grandma may have become cautious in order to maintain what they have shed blood, sweat and tears over to ensure they leave a legacy for generations to come.

Although both mindsets should have a place in the organization, there needs to be mutual respect and understanding between the parties.

Passing the baton

When bringing in a successive generation prior to the exit of another generation, personality, education, goals, aspirations, leadership capabilities and financial expectations should be assessed to ensure the correct individual from the successor generation is stepping into the correct area of responsibility. The first-born does not necessarily need to, or often should not, lead the business.

Equally, entitlement felt by successive generations should not determine either the position held or the amount received from the business. What is good for the business needs to come before the sensitivities of family members.

Successful businesses have very clearly defined roles and positions for each member of the organization. Each seat on the bus is occupied by an individual with specialized skills and personality to excel at their assigned task. While this may seem intuitive, family-operated businesses have strong forces pushing against this type of management style.

Family members may feel entitled, a parent or grandparent may want to help a struggling child or grandchild, or management may not have the resolve to tell a family member they will not be hired, will be let go or will be required to change positions. An adviser will be able to assess the personalities, skills and education of each family member and determine where they best fit for the ongoing success of the business.

Consider this example of a local bike store. The owner had five children: three boys and two girls. Neither of the girls were interested in owning the business; however, each of the three boys expressed an interest. The oldest son was educated as a nurse, never rode a bike unless he had to and wanted the business for the lifestyle it could provide.

The second was an avid biker, had a relevant college education and work experience, and wanted the business for all the right reasons. The third son was too young at the time of transition to be considered. Thankfully, the father chose to let the second son purchase the business despite strong opposition from the oldest son and his wife.

While this is a simple example, and there was only room for one son in the business, the principle applies to all organizations. Make sure the correct family member is in the correct seat regardless of personal desires, birth order or other arbitrary qualification. A business adviser will be able to approach the situation objectively and provide a business-based recommendation.

Decision execution

Unfortunately, we have seen businesses continue to struggle after retaining an adviser due to both ineffective execution and failure to execute the plans created during the consultation. Buying a self-help book and keeping it under your pillow hoping to improve will do absolutely nothing but give you a kink in the neck and less money to spend.

An adviser should provide ongoing consultation to ensure the business effectively implements the plan. This will provide motivation to and demand accountability from management, helping to ensure the changes decided on are actually implemented. Make time, set aside resources and commit the effort to execute and implement the plan correctly; otherwise, the experience will leave you frustrated and with less money to spend.

Clarity

Clear and effective communication takes both a speaker and a listener – and each, individually, need to perform both functions. Emma Thompson once stated: “Any problem, big or small, within a family always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn’t listening.” Bringing in a business adviser provides the business the opportunity to have all opinions and viewpoints expressed.

This brings clarity to the goals and aspirations of all generations, paving the way for a comprehensive plan that will help the business operate healthily and smoothly. This process incorporates the caution and desire to provide the older generation with newer technologies and operational efficiencies the newer generations want to implement.

If a business doesn’t evolve with a changing environment, it will become stagnant and die. However, evolving too quickly or without adequate restraint will kill a business just as quickly, if not more so.

A business adviser will be able to bring clarity to an organization by saying what needs to be said to help each generation understand what is best for the business by focusing efforts and resources, making sure leadership is pulling together and in the same direction, and setting forth a comprehensive plan that takes the business from the start-up, first-generation stage into a sustainable business model.

Conclusion

Working with family is not easy, and many organizations put family sensitivities before the business, ultimately damaging both the business and family relationships. However, if managed correctly and guided by an outside adviser, especially when bringing in successive generations or when clarity is needed, a family business can provide incredible fulfillment and satisfaction.

More importantly, ensuring your business has good leadership, and an actionable development and succession plan that will actually be followed, will help ensure your business does not become a statistic.  end mark

RoLynne Hendricks is a marketing executive with more than 20 years of experience who currently serves as a partner and the chief growth and strategy officer at Cooper Norman. Mark Fetzer brings unique skills to the Cooper Norman team as a Juris Doctorate and MBA.

RoLynne Hendricks