Please enjoy this interview conducted by Ira Bryck, President, Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley, Inc. Ira interviewed Richard Lutringer and me about mediation in family businesses. The interview was broadcast on the “Western Massachusetts Business Show” on January 6, 2018. We discussed how mediation and facilitated family meetings can help families and their […]
Attorneys For Family-Held Enterprises (AFHE) presentation
I enjoyed the opportunity to present to the international Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises (AFHE) Mid-Year Conference in Cleveland, OH on November 10, 2017. Richard Lutringer and I talked about “Using Mediation Within the Family Enterprise to Bring Positive Change From Internal Conflict”. It was a great chance to discuss (because interactive presentations are my favorite […]
Harnessing the Power of Being Heard
My article, “Harnessing the Power of Being Heard“, was published today in the Family Firm Institute (FFI) Practitioner. It is the first article in a series leading up to the FFI annual conference in Chicago, in October, 2017. The conference theme is “Electrifying”, which explains this introduction by Asher Noor, of the Practitioner Editorial Committee: […]
How my work with ostriches helps families and their businesses handle conflict
It can be tempting for all of us to choose not to handle conflict. That’s part of why I work with ostriches: the human equivalent of the birds who (mythically) react to problems by burying their heads in the sand. It’s not a good option for birds (asphyxiation) or humans (problems get worse as you […]
Silence is golden, except when it isn’t
Silence is golden when you hold your tongue about the minor, temporary thing that just doesn’t matter much. But there is nothing golden about silence on estate planning, family business succession, or other things that are so very important that they are hard to discuss. A facilitated family meeting or mediation can help. […]
Certificates Earned in Family Business Advising and Family Wealth Advising
I am proud to announce that I have completed a fifteen month educational program and have been awarded both the FFI GEN (Global Educational Network) Certificate in Family Business Advising (CFBA) and Certificate in Family Wealth Advising (CFWA) by the Family Firm Institute. It has been a great experience: excellent faculty, comprehensive and thought-provoking readings […]
Out with the old…
…and in with the new. That phrase and that sentiment are better suited to the turn from the old year to the new than in a change in leadership in a family business.
The Liquidity Event
On February 10th, I will be speaking on “Practical Tips for Managing Conflict in Your Family Business” at the Liquidity Event. The conference will be held at the Harvard Club of New York and is hosted by the Family Office Club. The day will be a private gathering of family business owners to focus on succession […]
Every family is unique, yet some types of conflict are common
When a family member contacts me to talk about how I might be able to help with a family conflict over money or a business or a related problem, the person is often surprised to learn that their family is not unusual in facing such problems. (Trusted advisors who contact me to see if I […]
How not to use family partnerships
Paul Sullivan’s New York Times Wealth Matters column on July 7, 2012 was titled “In an Unusual Tax Year, the Wealthy Turn to Partnerships.” He described how the use of family limited partnerships is typically very limited, but the current tax situation makes them popular right now. Experts caution, however, that using these or similar […]
