Category: Interviews

Why Do We Treat Strangers Better Than Family Members?

A big relationship problem can affect not only family businesses, but also our personal lives: We often treat friends, acquaintances, and even strangers better than our own family members. In this Read more

How to Defuse and Recover From Family Business Conflict

The emotional conflicts that beset family businesses can be difficult to weather. Heidi Vermeer-Quist, a clinical psychologist, family business consultant, and third-generation shareholder of her Read more

Family Business Patriarchs and Matriarchs: When Is It Time to Move On?

Successfully handing over a family business to the next generation of leaders requires both careful planning and exquisite timing. The next generation must be competent enough for leadership and the Read more

An Innovation Challenge Can Help Employees Feel More Connected

PD Instore , which designs and builds product displays that help companies create a great customer experience, found an innovative way to help its employees feel more connected with one another. The Read more

Good Intentions Can Sow Dysfunction at Family Businesses

People wear many hats at family businesses: owners, managers, and family members. All too often, says family business advisor Sara B. Stern, they're thinking like family members rather than owners Read more

Here's Why Family Businesses Need Branding

For family businesses, branding goes well beyond logos and advertising slogans. It gets to the heart of what makes a family firm successful and admired by customers, suppliers, employees and other Read more

Help Your Family Business by Helping Others

When Katie Rucker was asked to lead a $15 million fundraiser for a local Ronald McDonald House, her twin sister Jenny Dinnen at first worried about running the family business without her co-leader. Read more

Many entrepreneurs launch a venture with great certainty, passion, and grand hopes for the future. However, at some point the dream begins to dim. They might receive negative feedback about their Read more

Let's Talk About Money -- and Trauma

For better or worse, our genetics and childhood experiences spill into our adult lives -- and in the case of family businesses, they affect how we view our family coworkers and the wealth our Read more

How Families Can Run Their Businesses With Both Head and Heart

FamilyBusiness.org Senior Editor Mat Hughes recently appeared on R. Adam Smith’s LinkedIn channel to talk about a challenge that all family businesses face: the pull between the passions and Read more