Learning how to write and implement a family constitution is important. Family businesses need rules that define expectations, and a family constitution can be written to address common family business conflicts. As families grow and family business issues become more complicated, a written family constitution becomes one of the most important gifts that founders can give to successive generations.
The process of family business strategic planning involves establishing and defining boundaries and maintaining specific roles. Failure to define boundaries between family and business often lies at the root of many family business problems. Family business boundaries need constant maintenance if they are going to do the job for which they are intended.
As a family business grows, the need for a well-defined family business structure becomes more important in order to keep the business growing. Once the entrepreneurial stage passes, more family business structure is required to define how the founder will interface with the business and find solutions to family business issues that arise.
When considering family business growth, an important task of the family business is to ensure the family business assets are compounded over the generations. This means that it is the responsibility of a business successor to work towards leaving future successors with more than was there at the beginning. It's important to have clarity with this task.
Effective family business communication is one of the fundamental aspects of building a smooth-running platform for success. Oftentimes, combining the dynamics of family and business can create conflicting messages, causing a family to confuse tasks. This can be one of the biggest mistakes families in business can make. Clarity of tasks between family and business is essential.
One of the most important keys to family business success is having well-defined personal boundaries. Family members must resist getting caught in the middle of a conflict between other family members. It's possible to establish a boundary by knowing what to say, and how to say it - without getting caught in the middle.
A successful family business is one that respects the privacy of the family members who work for the business. It's important to respect individual privacy as well as the privacy of each family unit in an extended family. By respecting the privacy of all family members, positive relationships can be maintained at work and at home.
Assisting and supporting family members are two keys that promote a successful family business. Support comes in many forms, and it is imperative - especially when a family member is experiencing grief, loss, pain or shame. Support is important even if one family member does not agree with the decisions another family member makes.
The most successful family businesses are those whose members always do their best to show mutual respect for all members of the family. Mutual respect is built on the trust that comes from knowing that one family member can depend on other family members. Without mutual respect, it can be extremely difficult to run a successful family business together.
When family members genuinely care about each other and are able to openly express feelings of concern for other family members, family business success is possible. To promote a feeling of genuine caring, it's important to give undivided attention to other family members. Relationships built on this premise are valuable for everyone involved.
