Beyond Frameworks: Unlocking the Full Potential of Family Business Leaders (Part 1)

Discover why traditional frameworks fall short for family businesses and how emotional intelligence and identity can unlock leadership potential. In this first installment of our three-part series, explore the unique dynamics of family enterprises and gain practical insights to enhance leadership effectiveness.

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Navigating CEO Succession in Family Businesses: Choosing Between Family Contenders and an Outside CEO

Navigating CEO succession in family businesses requires balancing emotional dynamics and legacy considerations with the objective expertise and strategic focus an external CEO might bring, ensuring the best interests of both the family and the business are prioritized for long-term success.

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Healthcare Cost and Family Business - Time for a Change

Family businesses are known for caring for staff and their extended families. Relationships are essential. Health care options are an important component of this care - but costs are spiraling out of control. We discuss this challenge and seek to identify options.

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5 Tips for Family Businesses Working to Transform Culture

Transforming the culture in family businesses requires unique approaches due to their deeply rooted traditions and complex dynamics. By leveraging their strengths, involving all generations, and introducing new rituals, family businesses can align values with goals, fostering an environment of psychological safety and emotional intelligence for improved engagement and productivity.

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Emotional Intelligence (EI): The Pillar of Strength in Family Business Culture

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is key for family businesses. This post explores how self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation can transform family ties into business assets, fostering a culture of professionalism. Learn strategies for embedding EI in your family enterprise, and pave the way for a harmonious, successful legacy.

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Beyond Overthinking: Practical Tips for Positive Self-Reflection

Explore the fine line between rumination and reflection. Learn to recognize the signs of harmful overthinking and embrace constructive self-analysis. Grounded in psychological research, this post offers simple yet profound strategies for turning inward musings into positive change.

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Harnessing Conflict in the Family Business

Discover ways to navigate conflict in family businesses through emotional intelligence and open communication, turning challenges into opportunities for innovation and strengthened relationships.

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Mental Health and The Business Owner

A mental health study found that entrepreneurs have a higher prevalence of depression, ADHD, addiction, and bipolar disorder than the general population, with anxiety being the only mental health disorder with similar prevalence. Successful business owners have developed coping behaviors, but transitions can increase complexity, confusion, and conflict. Business owners can respond to mental health challenges by building self-awareness, other-awareness, busting the success bias, and closing the skills gap by creating a team with the right skills.

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Are Cold Feet Really the Issue? Why there is a better way to measure owner readiness.

Advisors often attribute failed business deals to the colloquial term "cold feet," which they consider an irrational phenomenon. However, this explanation puts the burden on owners, and the root cause of many failed deals is left unresolved. Orange Kiwi's Clear Water Insights offers a better way with the Owner Transition Profile.

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Going Slow to Go Fast Pays Off

This mini case study is designed to help you learn how pausing helps you prepare for and move through significant transition points in your family business.

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Transgenerational Trauma – What it is & The Impacts it Has on Family Businesses

Transgenerational trauma (TGT) plays a major role in shaping the dynamics of successful business leaders and family businesses. Read more about how it works in this blog.

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Preparing for Mid-Market Business Transitions

Responsible leadership principles drive successful owners to intentionally consider how their business transition impacts family, key leadership, community, and customers. Here are three truths to consider.

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The Truth About Family Business Succession

When the fun and excitement of executing your succession plan turn into yarn balls of complexity, relational tension, and family conflict, even the strongest family business leaders get stretched. Gain 10 valuable insights to consider for your family business succession.

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When Your Need For Control Negatively Impacts Your Succession Dreams

“Why won’t people just do it the way I want it?” The founding owner’s need to control the process and outcomes are part of what made the business successful; the downside is this behavior also causes great frustration among family and non-family leaders in the business. Holding onto control while empowering key leadership is critical during seasons of significant transition and change. Read this article to discover…

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Family Business Boards – Hidden Challenges and How to Overcome Them

“Disastrous! No one in their right mind would form a family business board!” Ask anyone who has tried and failed, and this is their likely response. As a result, owners wonder if it’s possible for families to function well, and truly thrive within the structure of a family board. Continue reading this article to find out…

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Socioemotional Wealth – The Hidden Wealth in the Family Business

Well-developed socioemotional wealth (SEW) gives family businesses a decisive competitive advantage over non-family businesses. But what is SEW, and how do you develop it? This article considers socioemotional wealth and how to increase it in family businesses.

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The Role of Psychology in Family Business Succession – 4 Challenges to Overcome

The traits that made owners successful up to this point can work against them when they look to pass on or sell the family business. This article considers what it takes to succeed during a family business succession and the four most common challenges that may trip owners up.

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The 4 Stages of a Successful Business Exit Plan

You've worked hard building a family business that's created a legacy for generations to come, and you have finally decided that you're ready for the next phase of life. The question is – what does that successful business exit plan look like?

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Business Exit Strategy – 7 Traits Successful Owners Have in Common

There are two types of exits family business owners can experience – good ones or bad ones. The good thing is there is a lot you can do to ensure that when the time comes to transition out of your family business, your business exit strategy will lead to a good outcome.

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Multi-Gen Leadership

Multi-generational family business transitions are critically dependent on leadership dynamics between the the incumbent generation (aka: “now gen”) and the next gen to ensure the long-haul survival of both the business and the family. On the surface transitions appear logical and straightforward but, the heart of the issue lies below the surface at the irrational and emotional levels.

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