Having the opportunity to work with many family businesses in a variety of industries from New York to Seattle I have to say I’d like to see a lot more gratitude and harmony in family businesses.
Many times the holiday season brings conflicts and frustration to center stage. Nothing is more painful than attending Thanksgiving dinner and being uncomfortable because of underlying family business tension. I’ve been there, done that, had the indigestion!
I created a short video (View here) that outlines a few steps to getting a more grateful mindset around the holiday. Psychologists have proven that when we have a mindset of gratitude we are more open to creativity, possibility and healthy relationships.
Conflict is inevitable in any business. In the family business the conflict runs deeper and people give it greater meaning. What they need to remember is the meaning is coming from their own interpretations and stories they conjured up.
People have an inherent ability to make up different stories. In our work we call it your “narrative”. Through practice you can begin to create different narratives about your family. Narratives based upon compassion, understanding and acceptance.
Every family has difficult personalities, opposing viewpoints, and situations and events that cause damage to relationships. Thanksgiving is a great holiday to come together and be grateful for what you have and be accepting of your differences. I hope you’ll take a moment or two and watch the video and perhaps send it on to another friend or family member who could benefit from the new practice.
Life is short. Families can learn to be accepting of each other and enjoy a meal together without having to agree with each other about everything. Forgiveness and acceptance might be the best contribution you can make to this year’s family feast.
We are excited and thankful to announce the launching of our new online Family Business Performance Center. Please check it out, register to use our free online tools and give us feedback about how we can help improve your family business performance!
