So, You’re in the Family Business… by Paul  Karofsky

Jean (Mom): You two used to have such a good relationship. But it has deteriorated as the problems in the business have increased. You’ve got to straighten out your personal relationship regardless of the business!

Matt (son): Look, we’ve had pricing problems, delivery problems, and our overhead is too high with too many old people on the payroll. Dad’s on my case; he questions everything I do. I know I can make it outside of this business and earn a lot more money as well! Maybe I’ve just got to get away. But I don’t even know what the plans are long range for this company.

Hank (Dad): I know you’ve worked your tail off as general manager of this division with many things stacked against you, but these problems aren’t just because of pricing and delivery. Maybe this isn’t the right position for you. I just want us to get back a good father-son relationship again.

Jean reflects, “This arguing has got to stop. The new division that Matt has been running hasn’t worked out. In fact it’s been a nightmare. To me the question is whether he stays with the company or not. I think he’s feeling pressure from his wife and I don’t want him to just take off and move away.”

Matt silently considers, “I have to make some decisions. I’m thirty-three years old with a wife and two kids and I have to plan for them. If my dad is going to keep breathing down my neck, I’ll never have a chance to prove myself. I know I could make a lot more money on the outside. If we could just clean house around here and get rid of some of the high cost dead wood. Mom and Dad are the sole owners. Who’s going to own this business in the future? Who’s going to run it? How can I plan for my future, if I don’t know what his plans are?

Meanwhile Hank thinks to himself, “While Matt has worked hard, he has also made some mistakes. It sounds like he’d like to get rid of all the old timers, probably including me! It’s hard for me not to ask questions when I see things that concern me. With any other employee I ask questions to find out what’s happening. And from everyone else, I get answers!”

What’s going on…

Mom is wise blowing the whistle to call “time out.” She recognizes that the relationship between her husband and her son has changed and wants to see it resume for the better. For her this is a case of whether Matt stays with the family business or goes off on his own, with her grandchildren, perhaps to a more distant location.

Matt is frustrated with his dad’s questions and sees them as a lack of trust and a challenge to his authority. He wants to see some changes among more senior personnel. Perhaps, at some level, he would like to see his dad among them. While he is confident of his own ability to “make it” on the outside, he is reluctant to leave without some understanding of the longer term future ownership and leadership plans for the business.

Hank recognizes the positive contributions his son has made, but recognizes that the new division has failed. While not ready to blame Matt entirely for the failure, Hank would have more confidence in Matt if he didn’t get defensive every time he was asked a question and weren’t so reluctant to give answers.

What to do…

There are lots of interwoven issues that Mom, Dad and Matt need to separate: Matt’s performance, the new division’s performance, Matt’s compensation, Dad and Matt’s relationship, and Mom and Dad’s longer term plans for the future of the business, Matt’s outside opportunities, and Mom and Dad’s concern about the possibility of Matt leaving or moving out of town.

There must be a process to objectively review the performance of Matt as general manager of the new division. Ideally, this will include candid feedback from Matt’s supervisor (hopefully someone other than a family member), anonymous feedback from people who report to Matt, as well as an evaluation by Matt himself. This is critical for Matt’s growth and skill development.

Top managers should conduct a business “post mortem” to assess what went right and what went wrong with the new division. This allows everyone a chance to learn from past problems so that, hopefully, they won’t be repeated. The process should concentrate on a probe for “causes” and avoid the temptation to “fix blame.”

Matt’s compensation goals and the company’s plans need to be in synch. Discussions between Matt and Hank are a must and a formula should be developed that recognizes fair market value of the job performed with an adjustment up or down based on Matt’s skill and quality of performance.

Hank and Matt can examine their relationship in more depth. On what do they agree? On what do they disagree? How does each “trigger” a problematic response in the other? In what ways might the business tensions have played themselves out between them? Are there family issues that are playing themselves out in the business setting?

Mom and Dad should explore their plans for the future of the business ownership and leadership, giving priority to meeting their own needs first. Meanwhile, Matt needs to stifle some of what can appear as a sense of “entitlement.”

Matt should consider outside opportunities. If he finds a good fit, it might be the best for both his immediate family and the family business, where the door can, perhaps, be left open for the return of a more mature and seasoned professional.

Mom and Dad need to be prepared to let go. Holding Matt back for the sake of keeping their grandchildren in town could cost more in conflict and resentment than the family or the business could handle. Sticking with it isn’t the only solution that’s best for a family business. Sometimes the greatest gift of all is the one that gives permission to “let go!”

Paul Karofsky was president of his family’s third generation business.  He completed graduate studies at Harvard University doing research in family communication styles.  Paul is Executive Director Emeritus of Northeastern University’s Center for Family Business and facilitates its Leadership Development Forum.  He is the Founder and CEO of Transition Consulting Group, Ltd and is a frequent speaker and resource to educational institutions worldwide.  Paul consults to family enterprises and can be reached at [email protected] or 561-626-1110.

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