Family business leaders spend more than one-third of their life at work. If you’re spending it with negative individuals or family members, it may really affect you and your emotional well being. This is a major challenge in family business.
By arresting negative thoughts as they enter your ears and not letting them go forward into your thoughts, you can be successful in remaining positive in a negative situation. You will also be refining your family business skills. Here are a few ways to keep family business communication issues from bogging you down.
Possess a life outside your business.
Keep friends with whom you are able to share life experiences that are totally unrelated to your business or your family. Refuse to even discuss your family business outside work hours, particularly if the environment is toxic. The exception is when you can mastermind ideas for your business.
Recognize that most of what goes on at work and most of the negative communication, even that directed at you, isn’t about you.
Think about the stress your colleagues (family members) are facing at work, at home and in their personal lives. They may be projecting and displacing their stress and anger onto you and other people around them as well. Learning to deal with people is crucial to being a family business leader.
Refuse to let other family member’s negativity or selfish conduct seep into your system.
It’s simple to start letting negative conduct creep in by agreeing with perspectives or taking sides. Rather, choose to rise above it all by staying neutral.
Defend your thoughts; they sooner or later become your reality.
Make certain the negativism around you doesn’t continue playing in your head. Play music at your desk at a reasonable volume if you think it helps center you. Take breaks to collect your thoughts. Keep favorable reminders in quotes and pictures around your work space about what you are trying to learn and accomplish.
Truly think about your options for beginning your family business journey.
A few family leaders may be emotionally abusive; if the family business surroundings don’t look likely to change, evaluate whether this is truly the best place for you or if it’s time to leave the family business.
If you find negative mindset is effecting your family business negatively, take steps now to correct your own mindset. Then, as a family business leader, work on your families communication to create a positive atmosphere in your family business.
If you need help, please contact Coach Pete