At Strategic
Initiatives, we believe there is nothing greater then a
successful family business controlled by a healthy family. We
also know that family businesses often become places of enormous
heartache and stress for family members, in-laws and non-family
executives. These are countless families that have been torn
apart through avoidance of
In
working with family businesses we look at three central areas;
the family, each
areas. This
Assessment takes places through private structured interviews,
questionnaires, and analysis of the company's business.
Just like when a person enters the Dr.'s office because they
don't feel well, so it is with our clients. Similarly, we begin
with a diagnosis. Because the stress is felt in one part of the
family or the business - does NOT mean that this is the cause. A
careful diagnosis assesses and differentiates the causes from
the symptoms of the stress.
 It is
best to do a diagnosis of the three systems; individual,
family and business. These diagnosis are done through a series
of private interviews and questionnaires with family and
non-family members. We also look at various financial, marketing
and strategic business data. Often we attend Executive,
Management and Board of Directors Meetings to assess the
effectiveness of these meetings.
The Assessment includes a Seminar where family members as a
group discuss the family's strengths and weaknesses in facing
current challenges. The Seminar concludes with identifying the
goals that this family needs to reach and how they can best
reach them. We also provide a timeline for the family to
complete the process in an efficient way.
The
Recommendations often fall into several categories:
communication skills, development of a clear mission and vision,
understanding of legacy and core values, creation of effective
governance structures, succession planning, coaching for family
shareholders and executives, conflict resolution.
Testimonials
“Due to our work with you, when
our Dad died we were able to continue to work together as a
team. The trust between us has been tested, but your tools and
coaching worked. All we can say is Thank you. We never would
have been able to stay together without your work with us.”
-- Said  by
a 52-year-old son.
“I wish I had listened to you
three years ago. I know now what you were saying is true.
Everything is just more difficult to change now.” -- Said
by a 47-year-old son.
“When we started the work with
you, we didn’t know how important it was. We knew we stopped
long before we should have. The result, we are now in a long
lawsuit with one of our siblings. Our mother has not spoken to
us for 2 years. We’re trying to buy the business back. If we
could turn the clock back and work with you, we would have saved
enormous heartache and money.” -- Said by a 49-year old
daughter.
“We’ve never felt so much love
in our family. It’s five years later and we’re still using
the tools you taught us.” -- Said by a 38-year-old son.
“I never thought anyone could help
my children to get along. I don’t know how you did it. All Iknow
is that in the last six months, I see terrific improvement and I
was your biggest skeptic, I advised my children not to go
forward with this project. In this case I’m glad they didn’t
listen to me.” -- Said by a 71-year old Dad.
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