'No es cuestión de tener el control, sino de saber soltarlo a tiempo'.
Directing a family business is one of the biggest leadership challenges: it is not enough to make good business decisions, you also have to manage emotions, expectations and personal relationships. When family ties intersect with corporate interests, the conflict can become part of the routine. How to prevent the joints from becoming battlefields? This article, inspired by the book The secret of old shoes From Dick Lyles, it offers practical strategies to transform family dynamics into a competitive advantage.
The 4 formulas for your family business to work without drama
1. He gives power: leading is also trusting
The greatest obstacle in many family businesses is the fear of letting go. The founder, with years of experience, fears that nobody will do it the same. And he is probably right: they won’t do it the same … they could do better. Leading is not to control every decision, but to train those who will take the reins tomorrow. Trusting is not a weakness, it is a vision.
“The one who does not release, hinders. Trusting is not stop leading, is to teach the other who can also.”
‘A family business is not inherited with will, it is built with confidence‘.
2. Collaborate always wins: we are not here to compete among us
When egos weigh more than the objectives, the business stagnates. The rivalries between brothers, cousins or partners only wear out. The key is to build a culture of collaboration: share goals, celebrate joint achievements and resolve differences with maturity. Because in a family business, if one wins, they all win.
“The competition is good … but against the market, not among the family.”
3. Not everything is black or black: listen more, judge less
Each family member has a history, a perspective and a way of seeing the business. Listening actively, without prejudice, allows you to discover opportunities where we only saw problems. Empathy is the invisible glue that keeps the family business together.
“Behind every opinion there is a story you don’t know. Listen to you before deciding, understand before judging.”
4. Think in the future: resolve looking forward
The errors of the past should not become anchors. Instead of reviving old discussions, let’s focus on what is coming. A family business with vision of the future learns from the past, but does not get trapped in it. Plan, innovate and build with an eye on the next generations.
“The past is to learn, not to live there. The future is built with decisions, not with resentments.”
THE MORALEJA OF THE BOOK
We all load with our “old shoes”: habits, beliefs, ways of reacting that no longer serve us. Changing them is not easy, but it is necessary if we want to advance. In a family business, the real legacy is not in the goods, but in the quality of relationships. If we walk together, with respect and purpose, we will go further.
A family business is not just a business: it is a shared story, a collective dream. And like every story, it can have difficult chapters. But if there is trust, communication and vision, that story can become a legacy that transcends generations. Because in the end, what really unites are not the surnames, but the values. Leadership is not measured by how much you control, but how much you inspire.
About the author:
Twitter: @mariorizofiscal
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