Hey friends, I know that when you decide to enter the well-established business of your parents there are many problems that come boarded with it. As ‘every new drop of water in a bucket have pushed other drops to make its own space’ in an organisation also you have to make your own space by pushing others, or pushing already set ideologies. Below are the few tips or rather suggestions that will help you enter into Family business.
1. Understand what they are saying –
Parents always want to see their children’s to grow their business to the next level of success. They want you to work hard for it but they never want us to go through all the struggles that they have been through. They are the ones who were running the business until yesterday without you and have much more experience of how the system works. So, it is always wise to listen to them carefully and take their advice seriously as experience is the best teacher and when the student of the best teacher is with you. It’s finally upon you how to take a head start from it…
2. Never accept just YES!
All know that you have studied so hard and want to capture the whole world with your brilliant idea in a go. But wait… the ones before you were not fooled, that brilliant ideas of your might have also come across to their mind as well. So think of the reasons for them objecting to your ideas before saying ‘NO’. Try to understand why are they afraid of your idea, why is that it didn’t convince them.
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3. Make your point in figures –
Always remember ‘numbers speak louder than words’ in business. It is not that they are always right. They might be having some misconception, or maybe they are hesitant due to lack of some knowledge or maybe they are under influence of someone… But this does not mean that you have to forget your idea. Present your proposal, more objectively with lots of figures and based on facts. As numbers always, hits brain better than anything else does.
4. Never say ‘NO’ in front of outsiders –
Remember one thing that apart from anything else they are always your elders, so you have to respect them in any case. Even if you have a difference of opinions, never show it in front of others. This is the most important suggestion or rather I would say it as a never to forgot rule. Everyone out there, whether it is your customers, or suppliers or even your own employees will take benefit of the fact that you two did not agree upon a point. Never forget we had been ruled by invaders for centuries just by because we were not united.
It does not mean that you have to bury your thoughts; it is just that you can present your opinion separately and personally to them and understand their viewpoint as well. Even if you are short on time and have to make a decision urgently always make sure to excuse others and discuss thoroughly personally.
5. Old employees have special space in your business –
The people who are been with you through all your ups and downs are the closest people and have a special place in your life. Same goes for the employees who are being part of your business for a long time. Those employees have a special trust value in the organisation. Sometimes they even overpower you in front of others, as no doubt they have much more experience than you. So the best way to deal with them is to understand their value and act accordingly in the matters related to them to avoid any kind of power imbalance in the organisation structure.
6. You are still a kid –
Another problem that a new entrant has to go through is that they are still considered as a kid. Most of the generations-long business have people who are old enough to have been seen you as a small kid calling them ‘uncle’ or ‘kaka’ or anything similar and they referring you as ‘beta’. When you enter in business and become their boss and it is quite difficult for them to accept it. Even though if there are no such close people but the problem still exists with the employees which are old enough to accept you as a young person as their boss. Even you cannot ask them to resign and solve the problem, as your business cannot afford to losses them.
The best way to tackle this problem is to arrange one to one meeting with them. Make them understand that you respect them, but in an organisation, certain procedures need to be followed and if you will not respect me as your superior then others young employees will also do so. In the end, it will affect our organization’s goodwill and I know you will not let that happen.
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This will help you create a good leaders image of in front of your employees and slowly they will start respecting your decisions. As the rules of the market have changed, now ‘employees are the new king of the organisation’ as one cannot grow alone and your ultimate goal is to grow.
7. Authorization –
Often it is seen in most of the traditional family businesses, that there is no proper authorization. When a new member enters into the authority clan the problem even worse. Sometimes employees or even your suppliers and customers try to take benefit of this situation, which in ends pulls down your business. So as a new member, you should try to make all understand the importance of authorization and establish a proper system. This, as a result, will help save a lot of time in the decision-making process and if there is need weekly or as require a regular meeting can be done where you can discuss the matters with other members. All this will result in increasing the overall work efficiency.
“Time to time communication is the best way to avoid any kinds of problems.”
There were our tips for new generation to enter into family business, what u had to say on this, let us know in the comment section!
34 comments
This is great post for every startup. Since, I want to start my own business. These tips are really great for me. 😊
Thank you Harish Joshi. It will be my honor if any of these will help you in your business. All the best for your startup.
Useful tips for entrepreneurs entering family business. Interesting read for me.
Thank you Indu.
We did try to join the family business, but I guess we somewhere see where we went wrong thanks to this post
Thanks Everything On A Plate.
Great article for our son to read, he is only 12 but recently we started to training him so that he can one day take over the family business.
Thank you evelyn hernandez. I am glad that this is helpful to you, but i think your son is too young for all this, let him take some time to decide what he wants to do.
Numbers 4 and 5 are so important. Older employees deserve respect–they’ve been there a long time and know how to run things. Also, never argue or be disrespectful in from of customers–it’s important to show a united front. Those discussions can wait until later.
Thank you Tracy @ Cleland Clan.
Great tips. Im planning to have a business myself. I would surely use most of the tips I read here. Thanks.
Thank you Neil Alvin Nicerio. I am glad to hear that.
These tips are excellent for being successful in any family business.
Thank you Europe Finance blog.
These are all great tips and you are so right in remembering that you are kid.
Thank you Juli.
This was a great post. It is a sad thing when parents see their children not meeting up to their expectation in running the family business and it’s almost difficult for children to work under the supervision of their family. I know of one who doesn’t want to have anything to do with his father’s business because he feels like his father is still using the old technique in running their business but I feel like, If the man is still making good success why not just be patient and put in some extra work in making him see reasons why he should support your system of working.
Thank you Adaezeboltbethel. Whenever any new generation member enters a family business its the responsibility of both generation people to understand each other before reacting. Its basic human psychology which makes them object anything and everything that shakes there stability, so presenting ones point more objectively/numerically is the best way to convince other. In yours friends case also sitting together and doing cost benefit analysis of both the system/technique will help them find the best suitable method as it doesn’t mean that if you are earning good there cant be anything better.
Thought provoking post. Like it the way you have brought out two facets of saying no.. Learn to say no but don’t do it in-front of outsiders.
Thank you Backpacking Series.
This is some really good information. As someone who doesn’t have a family business, these are things I never would have thought of.
Thank you Madison Scholl, I am glad that I could showcase you some of the family business issues.
Point #1 and #2 tie in so well with so well; don’t just say yes for the sake of being your parents but also listen to what your family says. I don’t have a family business but I had to say no to my parents nicely many times before.
Thank you aisasami.
This is really nice tips! active listening and focus is one of essential things for learning a family business thanks for sharing!
Thank you Maysz.
For starters, usually, it is a struggle. I agree with the “respect” attitude. It should be practiced anywhere, especially in business.
Thank you Ann, Yes you are absolutely right that whatever you do you should respect people working with you, for you or for whom you are working. After all its all about people around you.
Very useful information. I always wanted to start my own business but I just don’t have the guts yet..
Thank you my wee thoughts. I am glad that you liked it and hope that one day you will do what you really wanna do.
Though I don’t see such a life situation in my near future..good to know these things!
Thank you Vaishali. Keep reading…
okay so where was your post when I started in my family business lmao. such a great post and definitely recommend others to see this post.
hahaha… thank you so much melissa. I am glad that you liked it.