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On Business Succession and Managing Change

The number one Achilles heel is generational transition. This is when family businesses are most vulnerable.

Personal views

" Enjoy the rose buds on the way."

" The family business should not be the easy option, because it isn't."

" Innovation is essential to remain at the forefront of your category."

" The earlier you start talking about the business the better."

" It’s easy to spend too much time doing the doing and not enough time on strategy."

" The reason we are still here is because we have never stopped changing."

" Blaming it on the industry is not a valid reason for a business performing badly."

" The man on the fence sees the most pheasants."

" Moving from a control freak to a controls freak can be the most difficult."

" Father did not want to let go. He never thought about retiring."

" We didn’t talk about who was going to lead the business when my father died."

" It’s about evolution, not revolution."

" Sometimes high achievers do not want to join the business and low achievers do."

" There is no point passing on shares if you do not have a viable business."

" It’s really important that someone is seen to be at the helm."

" Many families don’t consider how to manage succession until it’s too late."

" The Chief Executive did not encourage the next generation through the business."

" I didn't want to be the one to muck it up."

" Every decision is a risk taking decision"

" You must keep family relationships and business relationships quite separate"

" Assess the implications of decisions before taking them"

" Take time to understand the family concerns"

" Understand your children’s motivation in joining the family business"

" Consider getting experience outside the family business first"

" Family members need personal development plans"

" Co-leadership may be an option to consider when a family has many talented people with leadership capabilities"

" Maintain a sense of humour"

" It is important to consider the expectations of the previous generation"

" Establish if there is an acknowledged leader and if so who it is. "

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