Family-run and owned businesses can have their rewards but come with their own obstacles, too. It can be difficult to separate business problems from family members’ concerns.
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Part of your job as the head of the business is to be able to balance this out. This can be a difficult task, but it can be done if you employ the following in your family business:
Don’t take things too personal.
Instead of letting your emotions get the better of you, make it a point to base your decisions on logic. When it comes to family, common sense usually flies out the window. It’s not that you don’t have any heart for your family members, but you must also be able to see what is best for the business.
When dealing with families, some members tend to get a little bit too personal with their comments regarding each other. While honesty is a virtue, there is always a right way to say negative feedback without being too harsh.
Just think about how you would talk to an employee who is not a member of your family. You should also make it clear to family members that they should never take negative assessments personally.
Communicate properly.
A business thrives on constant communication. When you start out a family business, this is even more required as you are dealing with people who have a stronger relationship with you.
You should be able to freely discuss problems regarding the needs of the business in an objective manner. A RingCentral business phone, for example, can be used to call other members of the family if there is a need for a business meeting.
Scheduled meetings are important to address core problems of the company. It can be difficult at times to communicate with family about business matters because meetings may tend to become too personal. Scheduled meetings will help you create a more serious environment where you only get to discuss business matters.
Before they even begin work, you should also have clarified their roles in the business to avoid conflict with other members in the future.
Promotion should not be based on blood.
Even before your business is declared official, you have to let your family members know that job promotion will not be based on their surnames but on performance and skills.
If you require that certain standards be met by your non-family members, the same rule should also apply to your kin. This would make your family members work extra hard to prove themselves worthy of the position, and not be too complacent because they are expecting you to promote them based on the blood running through their veins.
If you put up a business, you should really mean to run it like a real business. This will also make your other employees respect you as their leader.
Bond outside the business.
At the end of the day, remember that they are still your relatives. You still need to have a bond with them outside of work. This will help strengthen your family ties and loyalty to one other.
If you can, set a date when all of your family members can go out and enjoy a weekend getaway to a nearby beach. You can also include other employees so that you get to know them better.
Alternatively, you can plan a team-building activity where you get everybody to participate in games. Set activities that will not only include your employees but their spouses and kids as well. This can also be a time for them to bond with their own families. Consider this a reward for their hard work and loyalty to your company.
Edward Morrison
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[…] Family businesses have long been considered the backbone of the economy. Many of the most respected businesses are family-owned. Trying to balance family and business can produce added tensions for each family member. […]