Any business requires 110 percent effort, but a family business demands personal and professional attention in a unique way. There is potential for a great amount of personal and family stress, even disputes. A professional mediator can make all the difference. Read about how a professional consultant can be one of the best assets available to a family business.
Family-Owned & Farm Business Retreats
You have worked all your life to build a successful business. Do you realize your chances are only 1 in 7 that your grandchildren will inherit your company? Too often, the business becomes entangled in family ties that undermine company success. Consequently, many owners find it helpful to develop a plan for the family and the family’s role in the business. This creates a link between the family and the business.
The starting point for linking family with the business is a Family Retreat. This is the forum for setting the stage for the family to work together as a team. The primary goal of a family retreat is the development of a Family Business Plan. This plan enables a family to work out a vision of how it sees itself and how it sees its business in the future.
Retreat Outcomes
Although the specific objectives of each Family Retreat will vary, typical outcomes include the following:
- A family vision statement
- A statement of family philosophies
- Family objectives
- Specific strategies and action plans to achieve objectives
- Family programs for:
- governance and decision-making
- resolving conflict
- educating family members
- achieving family harmony and unity
- A communications profile of family members for:
- helping members understand and cope with family dynamics
- reducing interpersonal stress
- improving communications
- increasing trust, respect, and acceptance
Our Retreat Process
We design your Family Retreat to meet your individual family’s needs. Your retreat is the beginning of linking family with the business. An important result should be the establishment of periodic family meetings and retreats in the future.
Our method for leading your family through its business planning process is thorough and complete. The cornerstone of this method – our more than 30 years of experience in working with closely held and family businesses to put their ideas into motion. Our practical business and behavioral management expertise brings an appropriate balance to the family business planning process. Our goal is to make your family’s experience comfortable, and yet compelling, as we guide and contribute to the process.
We expect you will eventually run your family retreats without our assistance. Therefore, we also coach you on how to effectively lead and facilitate your own retreats and family meetings.