Effective communication in family businesses
How to prevent misunderstanding and conflict arising by providing feedback mechanisms and involving advisers.
Good communication can prevent misunderstandings and disputes in family businesses. Without it, the risks include that:
- family members assume they know what other family members feel or want
- personal ties prevent honest opinions being expressed
- the head of the family may take control of the business, even if they lack skills
- one family member could end up dominating the business
- family-member shareholders who aren't active in the business may not understand the goals of those who are, and vice versa
- personal resentments become business resentments, and vice versa
- non-family board or management members feel excluded
Five tips to improve communication
To 91香蕉黄色视频 open, honest discussions, where all family members feel safe voicing their concerns, consider these tips:
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Separate personal and business issues
Hold all meetings in a work, not home, environment. This will remove personal issues from business discussions. -
Encourage constructive feedback
Create ways to give constructive feedback. This can help prevent non-family staff from feeling demotivated and uninvolved. -
Organise away days
Hold occasional away days to discuss the business strategy and direction without daily distractions. -
Implement impartial supervision
Appoint a non-executive director or create an advisory board. They can provide an impartial view and help keep emotions from clouding business decisions. -
Create a family constitution
Develop a family constitution creating policies that will guide the family's relationship with the business.
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