Since it’s National Sibling Week and I’m committed to helping brothers and sisters create stronger sibling relationships, here’s five actions you can take within the next 45 days:
Get 360 Degree Feedback
A leadership development tool used in corporate America is getting 360 degree feedback every two to four years for the senior leaders. 360 degree feedback, performed properly, can be a great tool to help siblings get anonymous, unfiltered feedback about how they are perceived by employees and key stakeholders. That information will also be very helpful for siblings to understand how they can improve their own interactions with each other.
Take a Work Style Assessment
There are many reliable proven work style assessments that will help you and your sibling better understand how each other is wired so that you can communicate and collaborate more effectively. If you haven’t taken this type of assessment lately take another one it will be a great way for you to engage in a dialogue about how to work together if not more cohesively.
Make Sure You’re in the Right Role in the Company or Get in the Right Role in the Company
Siblings sometimes end up in a position in the company due to the fact that it was an open position when they got there. A common source of the sibling tension is the fact that people are in a role that are not ideally suited for their personality type.
Make sure you are in the role that best fits your inherent strengths.
Change Roles in the Company Every Now and Then
A common practice in corporate America is to have senior leaders shift roles within the company. This strategy helps create a few results: it cross-trains the senior leaders to have a broad work experience; it enables a leader to bring new ideas to different parts of the company; it exposes leaders to other key employees within the company; it challenges senior leaders to get out of their comfort zone and see how good they are at creating a strong leadership brand across a diverse group of people in the company.
Go Camping, Fishing or on Vacation Together
Often we’ve helped siblings get their relationship rekindled and reconnected by sitting around the campfire or taking a trip to the family’s summer retreat. Remember the saying, “all work and no play makes for stressed out combative siblings.” Make it an annual ritual to get away with your sibling even for a night or two and reconnect to the family values and create your united vision.
The Bottom Line…
Remember ideas are great, but action is even more important. Commit to taking one or two of these actions with your sibling within the next 45 days. Email me and let me know what your commitment is and I’ll hold you accountable!
LANDMINE DETECTION MAP
Are you battling next-generation issues, in-law drama, sibling rivalries or even health-related problems due to stress in your family business? The Landmine Detection Kit will help you identify underlying issues that eventually could create catastrophic damage to your family business.
