Shows
“Family Business” … makes no sense!The Family Plan - Values, Visions & Goals | Making Sense of Family BusinessCause #24 In this episode, I explain why the lack of clear family values, vision, goals, and plans is one of the biggest causes of conflict in family businesses. I show how aligning individual and family aspirations creates clarity, certainty, and commitment, especially during tough economic times when well-planned family businesses often outperform competitors. I also outline how effective planning - from long-term family vision to practical activation and execution - provides direction, builds accountability, and protects both the family’s legacy and the business across generations.
2025-12-3017 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!What's Fair? Equal Ain't Equitable - Expectations vs Rewards | Making Sense of Family BusinessCause #23In this episode, I explore one of the most common and emotionally charged causes of conflict in family business: confusing equality with fairness. I explain why loving children equally does not mean treating them the same, and how equal asset distribution can deeply undermine succession, trust, and family harmony when contributions, needs, and promises differ. Using real-world examples, I show how well-intentioned decisions around estate planning can fracture families and businesses, and why early conversations, structured family forums, and independent advice are essential to achieving equitable - not equal - outcomes that protect both the family...
2025-12-2308 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Birth Order Dynamics | Making Sense of Family BusinessCause #22In this episode, I explore the Birth Order Lottery and how birth order dynamics quietly shape personalities, roles, and conflict in family businesses. I explain how early family roles formed in childhood - whether as the firstborn leader, the overlooked middle child, or the adaptable youngest - can become entrenched relational scripts that resurface in succession decisions, leadership expectations, and workplace behaviour. I also discuss how favouritism, entitlement, and unexamined family patterns can intensify conflict, and why early awareness, open family conversations, clear structures, and deliberate role design are essential to help families leverage diversity rather...
2025-12-1617 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Parenting Styles & Practices | Making Sense of Family BusinessCause #21In this episode, I explore how parenting styles shape family culture, personality development, and ultimately, the success or conflict that emerges in family businesses. I explain how early childhood experiences - whether from authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, or neglectful parenting - can resurface decades later in workplace dynamics, relationships, and decision-making. I also share how families can reframe past experiences, heal emotional wounds, and use understanding, empathy, and forgiveness to build stronger relationships and more resilient family enterprises.
2025-12-1114 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Tradition & Legacy - Springboard or Prison? | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #20In this episode, I explore how tradition and legacy can either strengthen or strangle a family business. When used wisely, they provide stability, identity, and a foundation for creativity and innovation. When misused, they trap families in outdated practices that suppress initiative and growth. I explain how to balance enduring human values with evolving business practices, foster a growth mindset across generations, and use governance systems and open dialogue to transform tradition and legacy into forces for sustainable, multi-generational success.
2025-12-0215 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!CEO Syndrome (the leadership identity trap) | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #19In this episode, I explore CEO Syndrome- a deeply personal identity trap that often causes conflict in family businesses when leaders struggle to separate who they are from the role they hold. I explain how over-identifying with leadership can lead to blocked succession, broken trust, and family tension, and why planning, empathy, and structured transitions are essential for smooth generational handovers. I also share how families can support outgoing leaders to redefine purpose beyond the business- turning legacy into mentorship rather than resistance.
2025-11-2521 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Disrespect, Mistrust & Unconscious Biases | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #18In this episode, I discuss how disrespect, mistrust, and unconscious biases can quietly destroy trust and teamwork in a family business. I explain how these issues erode confidence, damage relationships, and create emotional divides that lead to conflict or collapse. I also share how leaders can prevent this by building a culture of respect, emotional intelligence, open feedback, and strong governance—ensuring fairness, trust, and collaboration at every level of the family and the business.
2025-11-1813 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Ownership vs Stewardship (Independence vs Obligation) | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #17In this episode, I unpack one of the most powerful sources of conflict in family businesses — the clash between ownership and stewardship mindsets. I explain how an “owner” view focuses on control, entitlement, and personal benefit, while a “steward” view emphasises responsibility, legacy, and the wellbeing of future generations. Through real-world examples, I show how shifting from ownership to stewardship can preserve both family harmony and business longevity, and how open, facilitated conversations can prevent heartbreak, protect wealth, and keep families united across generations.
2025-11-1115 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Sibling Rivalry and Personal Jealousies | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #16 In this episode, I explore how sibling rivalry, while a natural part of growing up, can become a destructive force in family businesses when early emotional wounds, favoritism, or jealousy go unresolved. I explain how to unpack the roots of sibling conflict, recognise when competition turns unhealthy, and guide families through acknowledging and releasing old resentments. By addressing these deep-seated issues and redefining roles within the business, families can move from rivalry to respect- creating a stronger foundation for both their relationships and their success.
2025-11-0412 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Broken Wing Syndrome | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #15 In this episode, I explore what happens when parental love and guilt collide with business logic. “Broken Wing Syndrome” describes the over-protection of an under-performing family member within a family business — a dynamic that can quietly undermine performance, succession, and morale. I explain how to separate family compassion from business decisions to protect both the family and the enterprise.
2025-10-2810 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Imposter Syndrome | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #14 In this episode, I talk about Imposter Syndrome and how it often becomes a hidden source of conflict in family businesses. I explain how feelings of unworthiness and fear of being “found out” can drive leaders to overwork, micromanage, and create a culture of burnout and mistrust. I also share how developing a growth mindset, building self-awareness, and learning to trust and delegate can help overcome imposter syndrome — restoring confidence, balance, and psychological safety across the business.
2025-10-2111 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Founder Syndrome | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #13In this episode, I explain Founder Syndrome- how the passion, energy, and charisma that drive a founder to launch and grow a business can later become a risk if leadership doesn’t adapt as the business matures. I discuss the dangers of over-reliance on founders, the importance of shifting from “storming” to “norming” with systems and delegation, and how founders can transition into roles that enable sustainable growth and long-term success for both the family and the business.
2025-10-1412 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Empathy | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #12In this episode, I explain the relevance of Empathy (and lack of Empathy) as a common cause of family business conflict, and talk about how to use Empathy to help prevent, manage and resolve conflict.Most family business conflicts are rooted in emotional causes, rather than financial demands - so the highest likelihood of getting a good resolution requires effective emotional responses before anyone tries to address rational issues. Empathy is the foundation of all effective emotional responses.
2025-10-0520 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Emotional Intelligence | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #11In this episode, I explain the relevance and application of Emotional Intelligence (“EQ”) to family business conflict. EQ is the ability to know, understand, and manage your own emotional drivers, and to respond effectively to those of others.Most family business conflicts are rooted in emotional causes, rather than financial demands - so their causes, and their best prospects for resolution, need to address emotional factors before any attempt is made to address rational issues.
2025-10-0125 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Mindsets | “Family Business” … makes no sense!Cause #10In this episode, I explain why most family business conflicts are rooted in emotional causes, rather than competitive financial demands, and why the resulting mindsets of family members can make or break the family and the business.I use Carol Dweck’s work on Fixed and Growth Mindsets to explain how you can foster the right mindsets in your family and business to minimise and resolve conflict.
2025-09-2823 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Conflicting Needs & Interests | “Family Business” … makes no sense!Cause #09In this episode, I talk about how the conflicting needs and interests of individuals, families and family businesses can, at different times, be a powerful cause of conflict in both the family and the business …. and explain what you can do to minimise their impact.
2025-09-2420 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Parenting Styles & Practices | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #08In this episode, I talk about the four parenting styles that can contribute to the many forms of conflict that arise in family business; explore how and why understanding a family’s history can help to identify the root causes of many family business conflicts …. and explain what you can do about it.
2025-09-2118 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Dysfunctional Personalities & Disruptive Behaviours | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #07In this episode, I talk about the conflicts that arise when dysfunctional personalities & disruptive behaviours impact family relations and business operations …. and explain what you can do to minimise their impact.
2025-09-1718 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Fossilised Leaders | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #06In this episode, we talk about the challenges of 'fossilised leaders' in family business. A concept introduced by Jon around 15 years ago which describes leaders that are resistant to change. We discuss what causes it, how to spot it, how to respond to it, and most importantly, how to prevent it from happening.
2025-08-1424 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Broken Promises & Unmet Expectations | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #05In this episode, we focus on broken promises and unmet expectations, emphasising that most conflicts stem from relational issues rather than financial ones. Categorising family members in business into three types: rebels, resenters, and submitters, each reacting differently to conflicts and unmet expectations.
2025-08-1019 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Ages & Stages | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #04This episode talks about how and why different life stages create unavoidable tensions between different generations of family members working in a family business, as their personal and professional needs come into fierce competition at different times in their lives. I also provide practical suggestions for what to do about it.
2025-08-0616 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Narcissism | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #03In this episode, we focus on narcissism as a significant factor in succession issues. Defining narcissism as a personality trait characterised by self-centeredness and a lack of empathy, explaining its evolutionary roots and how it manifests in varying degrees from healthy to grandiose narcissism.
2025-07-3020 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Emotional Baggage | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #02In this episode, we explore the inherent conflicts between family dynamics and business operations, positing that emotional relational issues, rather than financial ones, are often the root causes of these conflicts.
2025-07-2309 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Personality Differences | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Cause #01In this episode, we talk about the differences that can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts that have deep roots in family dynamics, and how stresses that resolving these conflicts requires understanding the personalities involved and their impacts on behavior.
2025-07-1712 min“Family Business” … makes no sense!Introduction | "Family Business" ... makes no sense!Thanks for stopping by, I'm Jon Kenfield, the host of the Family Business Challenge series: "Family Business" ... makes no sense! In this series, I'll be tackling 51 individual causes that affect Family Businesses. Focusing on family conflict - a primary cause of family business failure - where either the family, the business, or both, fail.I share my learnings from almost 3 decades of working as a Solutionist with real Business Families - by exploring 50 of the most common causes of conflict I've dealt with. I also explain how to prevent, avoid, and resolve those conflicts. For...
2025-07-0814 min
The GAFEpisode 27. Jon KenfieldJoin us on the latest GAF podcast where Scott chats with past guest Jon Kenfield from The Solutionist Group.
In this episode Scott and Jon dive deeper into the world of families in business. Jon shares his insights gathered from years helping families navigate the complexity of operating a family business.
2022-09-2038 minThe GAFEpisode 12. Jon KenfieldJoining Scott in this episode of The GAF is family business specialist, Jon Kenfield, from The Solutionist Group.
Scott and Jon explore the oftentimes fraught world of family business. They discuss conflict mediation, wealth & business succession and the roles of the Family Board & Family Constitution.
There's a wealth of informative content in this episode, enjoy!
2021-08-0334 min
50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Video No 50. Cuckoo Consultants.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict and how to deal with them.
Family Business Mediation Video No 50. Cuckoo Consultants.
By Jon Kenfield. Family Business Mediator. Solutionist.
• This video is unique amongst the 50 in this series in that it looks to an entirely external conflict generator that can act upon the family - as opposed to the other 49 causes, where the family does its own great job of creating its very own conflict.
• Cuckoo consultants come into family business environments, usually from a business background, sporting business-based credentials and perspectives. They create confusion a...
2020-10-0605 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Video No 49. Non - Family Conflict Causes.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict and how to deal with them.
Family Business Mediation Video No 49. Non - Family Conflict Causes.
By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• Can non-family people create conflicts within the family business? You bet!
• Family Business are notorious for creating cliques (read your Shakespeare!): supporters for Mum vs Dad; for siblings against other siblings; for one generation against another; and for getting all family out of the business - so it can be run properly!
• Motivations may be pure, or not, and may be driven by the best intere...
2020-10-0604 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Video 48. Old Retainers.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them.
Family Business Mediation Video 48. Old Retainers.
By Jon Kenfield. Family Business Mediator.
• Old retainers area a common cause of conflict in family businesses where Mum or Dad has worked with “old Phyllis / Sam” since the early days and has made promises that “we’ll always look after you”. The new business leaders are being made to feel obliged to honour these promises.
• Problems:
o The old retainers are no longer adding much value to the business and,
o They’re always...
2020-10-0605 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Audio No 47. Emotional Trauma.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them.
Family Business Mediation Video No 47. Emotional Trauma.
By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist & Family Business Mediator.
• Psychology is the science of understanding how people think, feel, behave and learn.
• I’m not a psychologist - other than at the “chicken soup” end of the scale - however, more than 20 years spent working with denizens of business families provides many opportunities to observe how people do actually think, feel, behave and learn - and the consequences for themselves, their families and friends, and the people t...
2020-09-1904 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Podcast No 46 Ethnic Issues & Cultural Norms.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them.
Family Business Mediation Audio No 46: Ethnic Issues & Cultural Norms.
By Jon Kenfield - Solutionist and Family Business Mediator.
• When a family’s culture is strong, it can exert powerful influences on personal expectations and behaviours - both in the family and in its business activities.
• Most ethnic cultures are based on historic traditions which, by definition, are anchored by the past: from another time, another place, and usually very different circumstances.
• These cultures may make little sense, and have limite...
2020-09-1903 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Podcast No 45: Lack of Talent in the Family.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them.
Family Business Mediation Video 45 Lack of Talent in the Family.
• Business founders are often driven individuals. They may be motivated by creative drive, frustration in another job, identified opportunity, need to work, obligation to provide work for family members, or many other possibilities.
• Following generations are usually less driven, mainly because they have a less desperate need to make a business in the first place.
• As businesses grow and evolve, their needs change. They may require more advanced technical, commercial and...
2020-09-0605 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 32: Business Succession & Continuity.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 32: Business Succession & Continuity.
• This is the big one for conflict! Business leadership succession, and a perceived transfer of associated family leadership, can be enormously confronting, especially to leaders and driven entrepreneurs.
• The outgoing leader has reservations about stepping aside, while the incoming successor is in a hurry to take over.
• Succession should be a process over a long time, rather than an event. Tensions can rise.
• Outgoing leaders require financial security and releases from liabilit...
2020-07-3104 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Podcast No 44: Retirement & Other Exits50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 44. Retirement & Other Exits
• Generational transition - “Succession” - is THE major cause of conflict in business families. It always has been, and it’s on the rise as baby boomers retire in increasing numbers.
• “Retirement” means “to put out of use” and it’s a terrifying prospect, highly or formerly active individuals, especially competitive business people.
• Retirement needs to be a process, not an event, planned, managed and implemented over time.
• The tension between up and coming employees, ne...
2020-07-0804 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Podcast No 43: Poor Business Performance.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 43. Poor Business Performance.
• Business performance, or more likely lack of, is a common cause of conflict.
• Some family members employed in the business may be underperforming, or sabotaging the efforts of siblings, resulting in poor business performance.
• Another cause of conflict is when employed family members continue to draw salaries, while non-working family members receive no benefits when profits are low.
• Suspicions can flare amongst passive shareholders that the books are being manipulated, despite knowing almost n...
2020-07-0804 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Podcast No 42: Family Values.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 42. Family Values.
• Values are what drive us to do what we do, the way we do it.
• Family values are the values honoured and shared by a family, and taken into their business.
• Even highly conflicted families usually agree on most of their important values. This often helps to re-humanise everyone in family mediations - they’re actually all about the same things.
• When values are in conflict people are in conflict. It means they’re not on th...
2020-07-0804 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Podcast No 41: The Next Generation.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 41: The Next Generation.
• The classic definition of a family business is one that substantially involves at least 2 family members as owners and operators.
• Family businesses tend to take themselves more seriously, the more generations of family they have in their pedigree.
• Almost every family business dates the beginning of recorded history from the commencement of their family business.
• Most families are, or can easily be, motivated by the idea of their business passing through to future g...
2020-07-0805 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Podcast No 40: Buying & Selling Interests In The Business50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 40. Buying & Selling Interests In The Business
• Conflict occurs when family members feel locked into holding ownership in a family business against their wishes - they would prefer to sell / exit - and there’s no agreed mechanism for doing so.
• Conflicts also occur when family members can’t stitch up acceptable deals for trading their respective interests in the business.
• Conflict arises when some family members regard themselves as owners, and want to act as such, while othe...
2020-07-0803 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Podcast No 39: Ownership Vs Stewardship50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 39: Ownership Vs Stewardship
• Ownership entitles business owners to do whatever they like with the business.
• Ownership is here and now / short term, selfish thinking.
• Stewardship requires owners to hold and improve the business for the sake of current and future generations.
• Stewardship has a long term, altruistic focus.
• Conflict arises when some family members regard themselves as owners, and want to act as such, while others see themselves as stewards, and want to act as suc...
2020-07-0803 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Podcast No 38: Sibling Rivalry.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 38: Sibling Rivalry.
• Often caused by family circumstances and parenting styles, exacerbated by distractions of family business.
• Perceived or actual parental favouritism.
• Differences in temperament and personality.
• Jealousy over parental love.
• Parental modelling of conflict styles - normalising / reinforcing aggression and lack of conflict resolution skills
- parents ignore conflict and teasing.
• Viewing the sibling as a competitor rather than a collaborator.
• Protection of weaker family members - bird with broken wi...
2020-07-0804 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediation Podcast No 37: Lack of Agreed Policies & Procedures50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 37: Lack of Agreed Policies & Procedures
• Business families are even more complicated than ordinary families - because they combine family with business.
• All complex organisms and organisations require clarity and certainty about what is to be done, and how to do it. This avoids the confusion and conflict.
• Family policies give shape and understanding to the family’s past, present and future actions.
• Business policies increase operational efficiency, and help to inject commercial objectivity.
• Lack of poli...
2020-07-0804 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 36: Personal Financial Security.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 36: Personal Financial Security
• Financial security tends to become a more serious issue as people get older and have less capacity to adapt and overcome financial challenges.
• Fear is always a major motivator and financial security, or the lack of it, is an easy thing to get bent out of shape over.
• Ages and stages: as older family members start looking towards retirement, or at least lower income generating capacity, they become more concerned about preserving money and transf...
2020-07-0804 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 35: Discipline (lack of).50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 35: Discipline (lack of).
• Discipline: (a) Internal = self-control and self-regulation; (b) External = system of controls + enforcement measures + consequences for non-compliance.
• Lack of discipline = lack of accountability.
• Extreme situations, threats that threaten the family and the business.
• The concept of discipline is often ignored or dismissed in a mature family context, as family conflict experts, we constantly deal with the results of poor family discipline that’s been transferred into a family business.
• In essence, int...
2020-07-0807 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 34: Family Dysfunction.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 34: Family Dysfunction.
• Family Dysfunction: A dysfunctional family is a family in which conflict, misbehaviour, and often child neglect or abuse on the part of individual parents, occur continuously and regularly.
• Family dysfunction occurs when the family system is broken. There’s a high chance of conflict developing if the dysfunction is allowed to spill beyond personal disruption into the wider family and/or into the family’s business activities.
• Systems need to be self-organising to ensure survival.
2020-07-0808 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 33: Family Succession & Continuity.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 33: Family Succession & Continuity.
• This is a big one for conflict! Family succession and associated control of family wealth can be even more confronting than taking over control of the business.
• Loss of family leadership can feel like a loss of relevance and identity.
• Owner has reservations stepping aside, successor is in a hurry to step up.
• Succession should be a process over long time. Plenty of opportunity for tensions to rise.
• Outgoing leaders require fi...
2020-07-0806 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 31: Decision Making: Family & Business.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 31: Decision Making: Family & Business.
• Many business families, even large and sophisticated ones, don’t have any coherent form of problem solving or decision making process. Up to a point, decisions can be made autocratically, without concern for scrutiny or opposition. Beyond a tipping point, this no longer works, and family members, and/or employees, object to decisions being made without their input, or insist on decisions being made with their input.
• This is often seen as a challenge. It may be...
2020-07-0806 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 30: Implementing Change in the Business / in the Family.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 30. Implementing Change in the Business / in the Family.
• Family businesses are often quite isolated in their own bubble of family, business and industry.
• They can be very good at what they do at a point in time. But, if they fail to fully engage with the outside world, and markets, they get left behind.
• Avoidance of objective performance measurement criteria,
• Challenges to current / established business practices can be taken personally (as accusations of failure) and get bloc...
2020-07-0808 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 29: Rules of Engagement: Family to Business.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 29. Rules of Engagement: Family to Business.
• Family business = private business > legal & practical ability to do whatever.
• Founder generation often doesn’t feel the need to formalise policies and procedures because they have complete control.
• Entrepreneurial founders may be very business-focused and largely non-empathetic towards staff needs.
• Most people prefer certainty to uncertainty, even if certainty creates pain.
• Lack of clarity, about almost anything, is a common cause of conflict, especially when individuals feel disempowered...
2020-07-0805 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 28: Expectations & Entitlements.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Expectations & Entitlements.
By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• Family membership may create unjustified and unsupportable expectations of rewards or benefits from the business - cars, phones, credit cards for personal expenses etc. These are sometimes caused by parental generosity that becomes unsupportable on an economic basis.
• Family employment raises obvious Performance & Remuneration issues.
• Popular myth that family members must put in 120% effort by employees. Rarely achieved, except in founding generation.
• Sense of entitlement is a common problem: o Protected sp...
2020-05-1607 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 27: Employing Family Members.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Employing Family Members.
By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• Family business = private business, legal & practical ability to do whatever.
• Prime reason for many family businesses’ existence is to provide employment for family members, (especially those with sub-par employment prospects, in the eyes of their parents).
• More complicated in 2nd and subsequent generations, because there are more stakeholders, coming from multiple households exponentially more complex family dynamics.
• If family members fit in = OK, provided they aren’t resented by staff (loss of e...
2020-05-1607 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 26: Modernising & Professionalising the Business.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Modernising & Professionalising the Business.
By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• Clash between old and new, conservative and progressive, positive and negative, proactive and reactive.
• Usually an inter-generational, age-based issue.
• Incumbents are invested in past and present; successors are looking to the future.
• Aged owners may be fossilised - they either resist change, or can’t physically make changes.
• Common for upcoming generation to invest too much in IT to marginalise owners / parents. When it goes wrong / over-budge...
2020-05-1607 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 25: Competing Financial Interests – Family Vs Business Needs.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist
• Classic cause of conflict - competing financial needs and interests. Family needs money to live on; business needs money to ensure sustainable trading.
• Family money is for personal use, which may be necessities, luxuries, or anything in between. Time frames are personal and subjective.
• Business money is to maintain competitiveness and generate profits. Time frames are commercial and objective.
• Assuming money is a scarce resource, getting the balance right is always challenging. Solution:
• Clarify pe...
2020-05-1603 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 24: Confusing Roles: Owners, Leaders, Managers & Employees.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Confusing Roles: Owners, Leaders, Managers & Employees. The Dotted Line!
By Jon kenfield. Solutionist.
• Conflict flows from confusion and attacks.
• A fundamental source of confusion is lack of role clarity.
• Another revolves around unjustified change. That’s not the same as unwarranted change - unjustified means “not explained, therefore not accepted or supported”.
• According to business best practice, leaders, managers and employees all have clearly definable roles in a business. Clarity provides Certainty & Confidence.
• Owners should be placed...
2020-05-1604 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 23: Ages & Stages, Conflicting Financial Needs. By Jon Kenfield.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Ages & Stages - Conflicting Financial Needs.
By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• Major cause of conflict - generated by different needs during different ages & stages, compounded by life’s usual complexities.
• When young - home & mortgage / family / school fees / collecting “toys” + prospect of many more years in the business.
• Willingness to invest in risk - less to lose and more to gain.
• When old - fewer operating expenses, but long period of not working and not earning is now an immediate...
2020-05-1605 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 22: Differences Needs, Wants & Interests Video By John Kenfield.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Differences: Needs, Wants & Interests | Perspectives & Behaviours | Respect & Rewards.
By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• Arguments and conflicts come from lack of: Shared Visions, Plans, Goals & Commitments.
• Shared Visions Goals, Strategies & Plans are aspirational focal points that start with built consensus & are sustained by continuing effort & performance.
• Lack of … leaves people to invent their own expectations, realities, & stories - encouraging leaders to create their own paths, while followers get confused.
• Solution: take time & make effort to build, adopt & implement shared pl...
2020-05-1605 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 21: Parents as Bosses: Nature vs Nurture vs Independence.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Parents as Bosses: Nature vs Nurture vs Independence.
By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• Nature vs nurture goes back to the Greeks: innate qualities vs learned / conditioned behaviours and abilities.
During the growing up years, Nature and Nurture interact within the Family System to shape individual personalities and core family dynamics. The results can cause serious conflict when they move into a business system, where consequences are magnified.
• Family Business = Double Whammy: o Parents at home vs Boss(es) at work a...
2020-05-1606 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Video No 20: Family Systems & Skills. Teamwork.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Family Systems & Skills - Teamwork.
By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• Families tend to assume that their “familyness” means they naturally work well as a team, but the reality is often far from the belief - which easily leads to conflict when expectations are seriously mismatched and badly unmet.
• The quality of teamwork has a lot to do with group culture, shared goals and values, respect, trust and inclusion. Teams function best when they have worthwhile tasks that place demands on neutral rel...
2020-05-1604 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 19: Family Systems & Skills - Respect & Trust.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Family Business Mediator. Family Systems & Skills - Respect & Trust.
By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• Families & family businesses tend to believe that their “familyness” automatically confers high levels of honesty, integrity, respect & trust, where sometimes the very opposite is in play: very low levels mutual trust due to the perception of lack of personal respect and/or reliability in the performance of promises, especially those given privately that relate into the business.
• The family business curse refers to the damage that business re...
2020-05-1605 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 18: Family Systems & Skills. Decision Making. By Jon Kenfield.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Family Business Mediator Audio 18. Family Systems & Skills - Decision Making. By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• Issues with decision-making are a major cause of conflict in many business families, both in the family and in the business.
• Charismatic business leaders can get drunk on power, which may lead to suboptimal business decisions and seriously dysfunctional family decisions.
• A major cause of conflict lies in decisions that appear to have been made collectively, and are then unilaterally overruled. Family members and employees can lose a...
2020-05-1603 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 17: Family Systems & Skills - Problem Solving.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Family Systems & Skills - Problem Solving. By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• Some families are naturally collaborative and engaging, others rely on key decision-makers to make some or all decisions. In the first case the family will develop systems and processes for solving problems. In the second case, the family may develop high dependency on individuals to the detriment of skill development amongst the majority.
• Lack of engagement of other family members in problem-solving is a significant cause of difficulty in succession planning.
•...
2020-05-1603 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Mediator Podcast No 16: Family Systems & Skills - Communication.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Family Systems & Skills - Communication. By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.
• It's common to blame lack of, or breakdown in, communication for causing conflict. This is total rubbish and causes enormous problems when hope, time and effort are put into fixing symptoms, rather than causes.
• Individuals may lack the skills and insights required to recognise the different requirements of commercial vs social communications. Social communications do not require the same level of disciplined thinking and approach that commercial Communications demand.
• Solution: Find out WH...
2020-05-1603 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 15: Emotional Baggage.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Emotional Baggage.
• Root cause of many family business conflicts can be traced back/attributed to actual and perceived actions/inactions that created negative emotional impacts that have generated substantial emotional investment over many years to become emotional baggage that individuals carry around with them, to their detriment.
• Solution: coaching, counselling and/or psych assistance to help diminish impact of emotional baggage, increase emotional resilience, and improve relationship engagement.
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2020-05-1603 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 14: Parenting Styles & Practices. By Jon Kenfield.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Parenting Styles & Practices.
• Root cause of many family business conflicts can be traced back/attributed to parenting styles (behaviours), and parenting practices (emotional context). Parenting Styles = behaviours:
• Dictatorial: obedience and punishment, rather than discipline.
• Authoritative: positive relationships, rules, consequences and discipline.
• Permissive (indulgent): no rules, no discipline, no enforcement, overly accepting.
• Uninvolved (neglectful): limited guidance, attention, engagement, nurture or discipline. Parenting Practices = emotional context.
• Responsive / Unresponsive : Demanding / Undemanding
• Solution: explore the family’s story (“narrat...
2020-05-1605 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 13: Emotional Resilience & “broken wing” syndrome - Business.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Emotional Resilience and “broken wing” syndrome - Business.
• Emotional Resilience = coping with stress and minimising anxiety. Epidemic.
• Broken Wing Syndrome = parent(s) protecting weaker children.
• Contributed to by genetics, home, school & social environments, birth order, parenting skills, domineering parent(s) and or aggressive siblings.
• Protectionist parents exert undue and unwanted influence on business decisions, major favouritism and organisational dysfunction.
• Solution: Institute a structured & objective performance management system in the business: formalise org charts, positions and functions, roles & respon
2020-04-2404 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 12: Emotional Resilience and “broken wing” syndrome - Parents & Family.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Emotional Resilience and “broken wing” syndrome - Parents & Family.
• Emotional Resilience = coping with stress and minimising anxiety. Epidemic.
• Broken Wing Syndrome = parent(s) protecting weaker children.
• Contributed to by genetics, home, school & social evironments, birth order, parenting skills, domineering parent(s) and/or aggressive siblings.
• Parental protectionist style spills from family into business, rifts between siblings (fairness) & between parents (merit & worth).
• Solution (2): focus on
(a) sibling interests and
(b) parents’ relationship with particular reference t...
2020-04-2403 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 11. Emotional Resilience 1 - Broken Wing Syndrome- Individuals.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Emotional Resilience 1 - Broken Wing Syndrome- Individuals.
• Emotional Resilience = coping with stress and minimising anxiety. Epidemic.
• Broken Wing Syndrome = parent(s) protecting weaker children.
• Contributed to by genetics, home, school & social environments, birth order, parenting skills, domineering parent(s) and/or aggressive siblings.
• Generates protectionist tendencies in family that spill into business. Can cause major rift between parents: “broken wing” syndrome.
• Solution (1): focus on the individual with the problem. Negotiate their acceptance of the need for help and provide that he...
2020-04-2403 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 10: Behavioural Issues. By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Behavioural Issues.
• Behaviours outside the normal /acceptable bell curve create tension and disruption / dysfunction. Family infects business & vice versa.
• Solution: psych assessments, coaching & mentoring. Defined performance and behavioural expectations.
2020-03-0803 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 9: Relationship Interplay's. By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Relationship Interplay's.
• Family Business continues relationship pressures present in the family into the business - very different contexts with antagonistic drivers.
• Family hierarchy: starts age-based, increasingly personality-based.
• Family Business hierarchy: starts age-based, personality-based, power-based (rather than merit-based) (family/business lifecycle).
• Solution: Mediation if there’s serious conflict - family history & personalities considered carefully. HR best practice: commercial / merit-based roles, responsibilities, authorities and accountabilities. Reporting lines. Detailed Job Descriptions for everyone.
2020-03-0802 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 8: Divorce & Separation. By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Divorce & Separation.
• Relationship failure rates over 50% - no wonder that fear of separation has become a common justification for not transferring equity to successors.
• Being in a family business places extra strain on marriages - parents continue to have influence over children - wouldn’t happen in outside employment.
• Solution: Family Constitution requires BFAs + Trust structured ownership.
2020-03-0803 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 7: Equal Isn't Equitable. By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Equal Isn't Equitable.
• One of the most common causes of conflict: confusing equality with equity (fairness).
Is actually an avoidance of responsibility to think and act in ways that any outsider would consider sensible.
• Different family members have different needs.
• Family is about nurture & support + celebration of success.
• More support required by more needy family members. Not equal support.
• Equal reward for unequal contribution / engagement also causes issues.
• Solution: get real in your thinking. Help whe...
2020-03-0803 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 6: In Laws, Outlaws & Extended, Blended Families. By Jon Kenfield.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
In Laws, Outlaws & Extended, Blended Families.
• Increasingly complicated family structures.
• Family policy: inclusion / exclusion?
• Communication breakdowns.
• Partners are loyal to their micro-family units.
• Pillow talk and nagging disrupts agreements developed.
• Solution: agree family policy for inclusion / exclusion (prepare to be surprised by the willingness of younger generations to include!).
Ensure adequate information is communicated to all significant partners so they understand the Plan, the commitments required to meet the Plan, and the likely consequences...
2020-03-0803 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 5: Fossilised Leaders. By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Fossilised Leaders.
• Living longer, later retirement: personal / financial / alternatives.
• Increasing numbers of businesses led by older people 70+. Some good, many bad.
• Fossilised: all faculties, more risk-averse, less agile and able to make important decisions. No desire for change.
• Successors frustrated. Employees terrified about security.
• Solution: real needs of older leaders need to be identified and addressed, with genuine sensitivity. Negotiated outcomes (mutual interests) essential.
2020-03-0803 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 4: Unmet Expectations & Broken Promises. By Jon Kenfield.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Unmet Expectations & Broken Promises.
• Common cause of one-on-one conflict, family cliques.
• One day my son/daughter, indentured slave.
• Repressive power play? Financial necessity? Cultural, Ethnic norm?
• Horrible consequences: conflict, pain & probate litigation.
• Solution: Family Plan: transparent commitments.
2020-03-0803 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 3: Human Diversity, Ages & Stages. By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Human Diversity, Ages & Stages.
Session #2 = Psychometric Identification of Personality.
• Personal & Family tensions through differences that can be positive or negative.
• Family in Business Life Cycle.
• Ages & Stages: Age = more risk averse. Financial security.
• Younger family members = high cost phase of life.
• financial tension: safety vs investment.
• Solution: acknowledge and respond constructively to different needs and interests at different times.
2020-03-0803 min50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themFamily Business Conflict Podcast No 2: The Effects of Personality Differences on Family Businesses.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
The Effects of Personality Differences on Family Businesses.
• Common threads and differences.
• Genetics, generations, ages & stages.
• Family hierarchy - genetic cloning.
• Compatible, complementary or antagonistic?
• Conflict from childhood = emotional baggage.
• Solution: Psychometric Identification, psych profile = behavioural preference, clues to: “do more, do less”.
2020-03-0803 min
50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with themIntroduction to Common Causes of Family Business Conflict & How to Deal With Them.50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
· FB - blessing or curse?
· Tied in. No escape.
· Good = unstoppable. Bad = disaster for health, wealth & happiness.
· Focus (purpose), Structures & Systems required.
· Attitudes & Skills required.
· Series will map the terrain, describe the dangers & suggest ways & means to stay out of trouble / solve problems.
Thank You.
For further information, please visit our website here
https://solutionist.com.au/
2020-03-0402 min
From The Trenches116. Nature vs Nurture, Wimpy Accountants & New TechBest on Ground Nature vs nurture. The goal of parenting is often a nurturing, equality method, but in a family business context or performance based rewards, there is often a clash. Jon Kenfield has some great content. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jonkenfield_familybusiness-business-conflict-ugcPost-6565414094575415296-F3hA Why do accountants rely on their feelings when giving advice? Because they’re wimps. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/337496 Hot desking, love it or hate it. We discuss if the people who dislike it are just disappointed they cannot hide in an office playing solitaire?https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/the-hidden-hell-of-hot-desking-is-much-worse-than-you-think-20190729-p5...
2019-08-1226 min
Don't Retire, Refire PodcastDid Darwin Get it Wrong About Survival of the Fittest? - Jon KenfieldIn this episode, Jon explores what he believes is a misreading of Charles Darwin's original quote. The phrase “survival of the fittest“, which was coined not by Darwin but by the philosopher Herbert Spencer, is widely misunderstood. For starters, there is a lot more to evolution by natural selection than just the survival of the fittest. There must also be a population of replicating entities and variations between them that affect fitness – variation that must be heritable. By itself, the survival of the fittest is a dead end. Business people are especially guilty of confusing survival of the fittest with e...
2019-07-2250 min
Don't Retire, Refire PodcastHow Fossilised Owners Threaten Their Own Business - Jon KenfieldJon is a highly experienced FBA accredited adviser. He helps families in business to resolve conflicts; improve family dynamics, communications and decision making; develop practical family and business plans, including succession; professionalise the operations of both the family and the business and improve prospects for being a long term, sustainable business family. Jon loves to help produce happier families and stronger businesses. His 350+ page book: “The Solutionist Guide to Family Business”, is widely regarded as the Australian “how to get it right” text for all types of family in business.
2017-08-0231 min