Working with family has its advantages, but it can also have its fair share of pitfalls. Family relationships and dynamics can often lead to disagreements and frustrations rarely experienced in the corporate world. While many who go into the family business receive a higher education to groom them for their inevitable role within the company, there are lessons to be learned that can only come with experience and time. Here are some hard-earned advice on how to avoid the common traps associated with the inner workings of a family owned and operated business.
Stop trying to be “one of the gang.” No matter how much you would like to believe your family ties don’t matter in the position and role you enjoy at your family’s company, it does and it will always set you apart from the other employees. While it may be possible for you to transcend your family tree to become well-liked and respected by your employees and colleagues due to your own merit, it’s a fallacy to think that you can ever separate yourself from the name signing their paychecks. Spending too much time worried or focussed on trying to identify yourself as “just another employee” at the company will only annoy those around you. Instead, quietly accept your namesake for what it is and concentrate on doing a good job.
Be aware of the optics. As a member of the family, your actions, both positive and negative, will always carry weight because of your status as either the current boss or as the future boss. Even the smallest and seemingly meaningless actions, such as the clothes you wear, the time you come into the office, when you leave for the evening, or how often you have non-business related visitors, can and will be scrutinised under a magnifying glass by your employees. If you have too many infractions in the eyes of your employees, it will start to breed discontent and disrespect for you.
Don’t expect special treatment. All employees want to feel as though everyone at a company is held to the same standards and expectations. Promotions, salary increases, and other performance-based rewards and benefits should be based on merit, and not on family relations. Keep this in mind so that you don’t allow your title or name give rise to the expectation that you are held to a different set of rules than the others. You should never make special exceptions for family members and you should in turn never expect your family members to do the same for you.
Keep family life separate. As difficult as it may be to put aside personal differences in the workplace, it’s absolutely crucial to keep the family dramas from disrupting the standard operating procedures of day to day business. To avoid the over-mixing of family and business relations, as well as curb the potential for family members to pit one against another, set clear boundaries and differentiate between family life and work life as much as possible. Establish a more professional environment by discussing only business related topics at the workplace, avoiding family gossip during work hours, and referring to people by name instead of by their relationship to you if possible (e.g. Susan instead of Mom).
Navigating successfully through a family business venture is no easy task, but with time and experience the separation between work and personal will become easier. Being aware of these common pitfalls, and how to best avoid or steer around them, will help to make the responsibility, and honour, of working for your family business easier to navigate.
