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Family CommunicationHow We Talk to Each Other
Monday, November 5, 2007
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Goals This Afternoon
Understand family and business meetingsLearn how to establish a
Family Council Strengthen family communication skills
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Starting Point
Who has a regular, structured Board meeting?A Family Council
Meeting?What does your family need to talk about?
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AMERICAShirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations
MEXICOFather-MerchantSon-PlayboyGrandson-Peasant
ITALYFrom the stables to the stars and back to the stables in
three generations
CHINAPeasant shoes to peasant shoes in three generations
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CANADA
Opportunity to learn fromfamilies around the world
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Whats the Problem?
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The Three Circles
OwnershipBusinessFamily
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Conflicting Purpose
Resistant to changerelationships Exploit change
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Governance
The processes, principles, structures and relationships that
help organisations realise their vision and objectives.
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Managing ComplexityThree separate governance structures within
one family business system:
1. Family organisation2. Business organisation3. Shareholder
organisation
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Purpose
OwnershipBusinessFamilyBuild and continue
enterpriseProfessionalise family culture, activities,
valuesRecognise and resolve shareholder issues
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Starting PointFamily Governance
1. Address the issues and assumptions2. Create a family
governance structure:Family ConsitutionMission StatementFamily
Council3. Maintain regular communication:Retreats4. Spend quality
time together5. Monitor progress
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Complex Relationships
Five people, 10 relationships
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More Complexity
Nine people, 36 relationships
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Complexity in the Family SystemSuccessor asks father about
retirement plansFather sees son as a threatFather criticises sons
work performanceSon sees Father as out of touchSon convinced that
father should retireSon talks to other family members
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Communication Skills
We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are. We do
not hear things as they are, we hear them as we are.
The Talmud
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Start the Discussion
UNSPOKENSPOKENDISCUSSIBLE
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Use Active Listening Skills
AttendingInquiryRestatingAcknowledging
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Speak from Your Perspective
Use I statementsState what youve observedDescribe the impact on
youAsk for what you need
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Build on Strengths
What works well now?What are common values?What are areas for
improvement?
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Guidelines for Family Meetings
Define responsibilitiesHow are members appointed/retire?How does
the group agree?How does it relate to other entities?Length of
officeHow decisions are recordedMust have a chairperson
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Agree how to Agree
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Types of Family Business
Owner ManagedSiblingPartnershipGolfTennisFootballc. John Ward
PhDCousin Syndicate
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Setting up a Family Council
StructureObjectivesInclusiveness
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Create Structure
Schedule regular meetingsFormal AgendaRotating ChairBring in
outside expertise
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Set Objectives
Become a learning familyPromote family discussionDefine family
values, mission, visionBuild trust and understandingDevelop
decision-making processKeep family members informed
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Be Inclusive
Consider extended familyEncourage participationTrack
attendanceEnsure equal playing field
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The best way to predict the future is to create it.
Peter Drucker
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How to Reach Us
Jennifer EastFounderONIDA Coaching + Consulting Inc.396
Brunswick Avenue, Unit 2Toronto, Ontario, CanadaM5R 2Z4
T: 416 922 8973F: 416 922 9629E: [email protected]:
www.onida.ca
