Developing and Sustaining a Successful Family Business: A Solution-focused Guide

Cover
Endorsements
Half Title
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Foreword
What Is This Book About?
Author's Introduction
Dramatis Personae
How It All started
Chapter 1: A Family Business Framework
A Short History of Family Business
From One-Man-Band to Family@business
Family Businesses in the World
The Family Business Is the Eldest Child
Atomic Power
Generation to Generation
Family@business Challenges
Reading guidelines
Family Business Succession
Succession Is a Process
Succession Is the Bridge to the Future of Your Company
Ten Best Practices for Creating Good Relations
Notes
Chapter 2: A Solution-Focused Framework
The Solution-Focused Essentials
The Esthetics of Change
Chapter 3: Family and Family@business Life Cycle
The Fundamental Challenge in Family@business
Complexity
Central Events
Intertwining Life Cycles
John and Annie
John and Annie
John and Annie
Overlapping Systems
Beware of Role Confusion
John and Annie
John and Annie
The Company: Solution Builders International
John and Annie
John and Annie
John and Annie
Future Generations
John and Annie
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 4: Education Is the Mother of Leadership
John and Annie
Education Is an Offer
Age-Appropriate MUST-DO's
MUST-NOT-DO's for All Ages
TEN BEST PRACTICES for Preparing Your Next Generation
John and Annie
Chapter 5: The Big Question
The Big Question
John and Annie
Assessment
Work in Progress
Basic Tools
Trait or Skill
John and Annie
Ten Indicators of Leadership Potential
Dynamic Assessment
John and Annie
Conclusion
Notes
Chapter 6: Challenges for the Next Generation
John and Annie
Formula P
Four Challenges for the Next Gen
Challenge 1 Morphing from Child/Offspring to Employee to Leader
Challenge 2 Respect
Challenge 3 Trust
Challenge 4 Siblings
John and Annie
Now the Stage Is Set
Chapter 7: How to Prepare G1 for Succession
John and Annie
Preparing for Succession
John and Annie Invite a Family@business Consultant
Ten Best Practices for Preparing G1 toward Succession
John and Annie
The First Family Meeting
Conclusion
Chapter 8: The Solution-Focused Toolkit
Mark, the Family@business Consultant
The Family@business Is a System
Different Systems Have Different Goals
Founders of the Solution-Focused Approach
The Solution-Focused Consultants Meet Up
Nothing Is More Practical Than a Good Theory
The Importance of a Good Working Relationship
Avoid Triangularization
Solution-Focused Questions
The Three Mandates
The Mandate As a Leader
The Coaching Mandate
The Mandate as Process Manager, Part 1
T.E.A.M
The Mandate As Process Manager, Part 2
Up and Downsizing
Essentials of the Solution-Focused Approach
The Solution-Focused Consultants Continue
Resource Orientation
Positive Thinking Is for Gurus
Goal Orientation
Note
Chapter 9: The Solution Tango
Protocol-Based Methodical Working Models
A Client-Centered Approach
The Solution-Focused Interview
Infinite Possibilities
The Solution Tango
Step 1 Contact is the motor for change
Step 2 Clarifying the context
Step 3 Goal setting
Step 4 Un-covering resources
Step 5 Complimenting
The Formula G-R-C
The Solution-Focused Consultants
Note
Chapter 10: Conversations with the Siblings
The Genogram
The John and Annie Family
The Sibling Interviews
Cherly
Mark
Eric
Ella
Conclusion
Note
Chapter 11: Next Gen: Eight Tools for Your Future
Generic Tools
The Siblings
The First John and Annie Family Meeting
Eight Tools to Help the Next Gen Prepare For the Future
The John and Annie Family Meeting, Continued
The Use of Scaling Questions
Q&A
The Solution Focused Consultants do a Postmortem
Conclusion
Note
Chapter 12: Generational Transfer, Sale, or IPO?
Next Gen Scenarios
John and Annie
Scenario 1: Do Nothing
John and Annie
Scenario 2: Selling the company
John and Annie
Scenario 3: Interim Non-family Management
John and Annie
Scenario 4: Succession Within the Family
Scenario 5: Management Buy-Out/in
John and Annie
Scenario 6: IPO and Family@business Covenant
John and Annie
Scenario 7: Permanent Non-family Management
John and Annie
Scenario 8: Ratatouille or 'a Bit of Everything'
John and Annie
The John and Annie Family Meeting
Note
Chapter 13: The Decision of a Lifetime
Look Before You Leap
Do Not Jump to Conclusions
Tragedy
Prenuptials
Family@business Prenuptials
The Decision of Your Lifetime
Before you Commit
After You Commit
Marathon, Not Sprint
Chapter 14: The Dance of the Stakeholders
Who Is Where?
Dynamics for the Three Circles
Shareholders and Stakeholders
Stakeholder Stewardship
Family@business Goes for the Long and Sustainable Haul
The Quintuplet People, Planet, Passion, Profit, and Pleasure
John and Annie
The Management Team of Solution Builders International
The Management Team Meets up the Evening Before, Scene at the Bar
The Management Team Meets With the Family
External Stakeholders
The In-Between Is Essential
Change Is the Only Constant
Differentiate Between Stakeholders
Ambassadors
Chapter 15: G1 How to Let Go after Succession?
John and Annie
Why Is Letting Go So Difficult for Every G1?
Change is Inevitable
Two Important Worries
The Essential Skill
Letting Go is a Complex Process
Financial and Legal Aspect
Emotional Aspect
Psychological Aspect
Relational Aspect
Principle 1: Grab Something Else Instead
Principle 2: Look at Your Personal Future
Ten Tips to Help You Let Go
John and Annie
Chapter 16: Three Family@business Governance Tools
The Governance of a Family@business Is Complex
Three Family@business Governance Tools
1 Family Charter
The John and Annie Family Meet Mark
The John and Annie Family Charter
2 Family Forum
3 Family Stewardship
Pater Familias, Mater Familias
Family Stewardship Tools
Why Family Stewardship Is Important
Chapter 17: Three Family@business Management Tools
T.E.A.M-Work
Dramatis Personae, the Management Team Plus Family Plus Family@business Consultants Cynthia and Mark
Three Tools
1 Resource Audit
2 Collective Ambition
Solution Builders International, Staff Meeting
The Collective Ambition for Solution Builders International
3 Business Strategy
Solution Builders International, Staff
The Usefulness Question
The Service-Profit Chain Audit
Chapter 18: The John and Annie Family Business, Ten Years Later
John and Annie
Eric
John and Annie
The Family@business Life Cycle, Phase 4
The Family, Eight Years Ago
Cherly
Ella
Eric
The Family@business Life Cycle, Phase 5
The Family Today
John and Annie
Cherly
Eric
Ella
Solution Builders International, the Company
Chapter Addendum 1: Little Note on Solution-Focused Mediation for the Family@business
Chapter Addendum II: Is the Solution-Focused Approach an Evidence-Based Model? YES!
Bibliography
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Index