Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Boundaries and Boundary Issues in the Family Business


In the recent Network of Family Businesses seminar, Jane Adams, Ph.D. provided great insight to very tricky issues for Business Families. Jane stated it is important to understand that Boundaries are structures that separate us and attach us and are the building blocks of all human relationships. Boundaries also contribute to the Roles we play. Everyone plays multiple roles as a family member and as part of the business, thus opening many opportunities for boundary confusion, trespass, and conflict, particularly when outdated roles and unresolved conflicts from one domain seep into the other. Both entities are different, and so are most of the rules, spoken and unspoken, that guide behavior in each realm.

A skilled coach and life boundaries consultant, Jane’s expertise, advice and assistance can improve relationships with grown children, parents and other family members, friends and colleagues and help you balance your needs with those of others and your personal and professional obligations and commitments. Her book ‘Boundary Intelligence’ explains how people cope with the problems and rewards of balancing personal and professional obligations, maintain family bonds when distance and difference tug at the ties that bind, and develop emotionally and psychologically throughout their lives.

Defining the elements of Boundary Intelligence as: awareness, intention, action, and resolution, Jane stated we all have the ability to learn and grow in defining and being responsible for our boundaries. Jane emphasized that in the Family Business it is as critical to have a ‘Boundary Statement’ as it is a ‘Mission Statement’. Critical elements of a Boundary Statement include:

The balances between individual needs and business needs

Maintaining personal and interpersonal privacy

The elimination of burdensome family baggage

Avoiding domain ‘spillover’

Resolving conflicts in the appropriate domain (the family or the business)

Promoting growth, stability, and success of family business

There were several key items Jane believes families need to recognize and can start working on immediately:

1. Recognize and admit that there are boundaries. These boundaries exist in a family, in the business, and personally with individuals playing several roles depending on the context.

2. Business Families must begin talking about and exploring their boundary issues. Communicate the concerns of each individual, walk toward the conflict to address the conflict. Avoidance is not a healthy option.

3. Develop a written Boundary Statement for your family and business.


I want to thank Jane for providing insight and practical examples of boundary issues.

If I can be of service to you or your family, I would love to talk with you.

The archived seminar is available to members of The Network of Family Businesses.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The Sandwich Generation


Have you ever played the part of Referee?

If you’re a Second Generation owner of a family owned business, you have probably found yourself in this position. Your parent(s) worked hard to establish a successful business. Their ideas, values and work ethic served them well and they loved and nurtured the business as part of the family. They were thrilled to pass on their knowledge along with the business to you. But now your children are beginning to get involved in the business. And in this fast-moving world, they have their own ideas about how the business should be managed, grow, etc. You find yourself in the middle.

First generation owners have certainly proven they have great skills, ideas and knowledge. But are their skills and knowledge transferring to growing a business in the ever-changing world we face today? Our children have the enthusiasm and new skill sets so relevant in today’s world. But do they really have the maturity and business knowledge to implement those ideas? And now they are clashing. Both generations feel disrespected. Neither wants to give up their own ideas of how things should be done.

How do you, as the “sandwich” generation, incorporate the good from both and keep them talking to each other, working with one effort, to enhance both the family and the family business.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Boundaries and Boundary Issues in the Family Business


The Network of Family Businesses has scheduled a virtual educational seminar with Jane Adams, Ph.D. on Creating a Boundary Between the Family and the Business. The seminar is scheduled for Tuesday, September 20th at 11:00 AM EST.

In a White Paper found at www.netfamilybusiness.com Jane states it can be very tricky to establish and maintain boundaries in family business. Everyone plays multiple roles as a family member and as part of the business, thus opening many opportunities for boundary confusion, trespass, and conflict, particularly when outdated roles and unresolved conflicts from one domain seep into the other. Jane believes one of the most crucial boundaries for a family business is the line between family and business. The needs of both entities are different, and so are most of the rules, spoken and unspoken, that guide behavior in each realm.

A graduate of Smith College, Jane Adams holds a Ph.D. in social psychology and has studied at Seattle Institute of Psychoanalysis and the Washington, D.C. Psychoanalytic Foundation. She has been an award-winning journalist, a founding editor of the Seattle Weekly, and an adjunct professor at the University of Washington.

Jane is a skilled coach and life boundaries consultant whose expertise, advice and assistance can improve your relationships with your grown children, parents and other family members, friends and colleagues and help you balance your needs with those of others and your personal and professional obligations and commitments. A best-selling writer whose books on how people cope with the problems and rewards of balancing personal and professional obligations, maintain family bonds when distance and difference tug at the ties that bind, and develop emotionally and psychologically throughout their lives have helped thousands of readers adjust to change and create happier, more productive lives and relationships.

We at The Network of Family Business are looking forward to Jane’s insight into this important Family Business issue.

Registration for the On-Line Educational Seminar is available at:

www.netfamilybusiness.com