Conflict is inevitable in every successful business. There are always competing priorities, limited resources and tough decisions to be made.
Successful family business families communicate this reality to the extended family so as to head off the disappointment before it even happens. Tough decisions need to be made for the family business to be successful in the long run.
Sometimes it’s difficult for spectators to understand the tough decisions that have to be made in the day-to-day operations of the business. It’s easy for the extended family to criticize decisions that are made even though they aren’t close to the situation or have all the facts.
The truth is you’re never going to please everyone in the family — it’s just not going to happen. The sooner everyone in the family realizes this the better off the entire family will be.
We encourage families to discuss conflict as part of our family business communication system. No one likes conflict yet it’s incumbent upon the family leaders to prepare the family to face some of the inevitable conflict.
To see a short video on how to deal with conflict in the family business click here.
Keep educating your family on the need for conflict. Give them access to training that will help them learn how to deal with conflict and keep trying to make sound fair business decisions that will ensure the long-term success of your family business.
The family won’t always agree with your business decisions but deep down they’ll appreciate the ongoing success of the family business.
