Succession Planning and the “Right Time” Myth

"I probably should do something about succession planning, but the timing just doesn't seem to be right.  There's a wedding coming up, we've got another grandchild on the way, and none of our children seem to want to have anything to do with the business.  Maybe I should just sell it." That's a distilled version of a conversation I recently overheard in an airport.  I was minding my own business, and I heard those magic few words that immediately drew me in:  succession planning.  What really struck me was how creative and rationalizing we can be when faced with actions we don't really want to take. To read the end of this blog, click here.

Family Business Harmony – DNA Doesn’t Always Cut It

As a family business succession planner I am commonly asked How do I help families find harmony? - And then more specifically; How do I convert skeptical, envious, petty, self serving, back-biters into unified families? And; How do I help them find agreement on goals and processes that will help achieve a mutually agreeable mission? To read the end of this blog, click here.

When Sybil Shows Up At Meetings - How to Deal With Emotions that Impact the Succession Planning Process

In some of my recent client meetings, I’ve felt as though some of my clients that have shown up were completely different people compared to my previous interactions while working through their succession planning issues. When I called one of my clients out on this “difference” recently, it was her remark that “Sybil had shown up,” calling to mind the movie depicting a character suffering from a multiple personality disorder. Not meaning to make light of a true multiple personality issue, I’ve been using the analogy ever since, applying it to the dynamic process that I’ve learned succession planning can be. Click here to read the end of this blog.