Is it easy to pass the family business to a new generation?
Family business owners are also the parents of the new generation. It means the responsibility becomes double. As a family member, you should muster courage and deliver an important message about your business to the new generation.
These are tough conversations, requiring dealing with bad experiences of business, and showing the brighter side of it. Ensure no damage in family relationships.
7 Ways to Prepare to Pass the Family Business to the Next Generation
1. Portray the business as an option
Parents hope their children follow in their footsteps and take the family business. Parents avoid the subject considering no pressure on children or some tray overselling the family business. The key is in portraying the business as an option.
Beginning a conversation to take a family business should be encouraging. Ensure you will support them and allow the kids to decide. Extend your children a non-conditional proposal of joining the family business and supporting the high school years of a child. Beware of assumptions to contribute to the success of your business.
2. Teach the foundations
The parent generation is the most valuable. They must give historical, strategic, and cultural understanding of the business foundations to the next generations. It helps children to know the underlying principles and underpinnings of the enterprise.
The business founder has taken the business and is living it. The new generation cannot identify the strategies immediately. Leadership qualities are important to run a business. You can get your child to learn from the position of a key employee. Showing your daughter or son the way to treat customers is not enough. It is to understand the root of customer service and the advantage it offers, as a key employee.
3. Plan, plan, plan
The succession of a family business is to encourage the founder to write a plan. Writing the plan helps influence each other. It is not a DIY project; you can take assistance from your family law attorney in Columbus Ohio, accountant, and people having organizational development knowledge. Bringing experts together to guide you in developing plans and the succession period ensures business growth. It is not easy, but the right approach is not an overstatement.
4. Designate a responsibility area
Designating to the next generation your family business is a big step. You need to ensure financial security. You can begin by designating certain departments. With the experience, they gain; you may increase their responsibility areas, and ensure a smooth succession.
5. Have family meetings
Family meetings ensure good communication. Productive communication needs planning. A family meeting helps discuss crucial topics, such as business succession. Keep things relaxed and informal, and avoid flaunting your leadership qualities. The benefits include clear understanding without any hard feelings delivery, and the perspectives ensure better understanding.
6. Develop a rationale
Transferring a successful business zone is painful. It is a grieving period for the parent to hand over their nurtured business. It may be due to a lack of financial security or losing power. Sorting the feelings helps pass the difficult time.
7. Start with mentors
The next generation of children entering the business may begin with a mentor. Setting this arrangement is better for your business growth. The mentoring relationship clarifies everything and sets up from day one. As a word of caution, mention they have to take the family business threads shortly. They should be aware of the existing responsibility. Going through the planning, determine a realistic date. Readily hand over the business to the next generation.
