It could be said that the most challenging part of being involved in a family business is not the business part of it but rather the family aspect. Communicating with and working in sync with co-workers can be difficult enough under normal circumstances. But when you factor in life-long parent-child issues, sibling rivalry, and just about every other dysfunctional family dynamic under the sun, it can be double the trouble.
Too often, family issues can spill over into the workplace where a lack of communication or longstanding resentments can begin to affect the bottom line. When this happens, many in family businesses can feel overwhelmed with frustration and unsure where they can turn for help.
Enter Ian Marsh.
Marsh is a London-based specialist in family dynamics and communication who authored the recently published book If it is so Good to Talk, Why is it so Hard. The book is the product of 40 years' experience in working with families as an adviser. The book explores the principles of interpersonal neurobiology and it impacts family dynamics.
When called upon, Marsh takes an active role to help family businesses in crisis by serving as a listener, communications and conflict coach, facilitator and mediator to families around the world, helping them to have the difficult conversations. Discussions which most often center around succession and governance.
Recently Tharawat Magazine had the opportunity to sit down with Marsh to discuss how these communication breakdowns tend to occur, how our biological and psychological makeup renders us predisposed to them and how to effectively deal with our mind monkeys.
