“It is useful to distinguish my role as a consultant from my role as a psychotherapist. As a consultant to your family and its individual members, my focus will be on issues that affect the family’s functioning in the context of the family business. The often conflicting demands of family, management, and ownership are approached on a solution focused basis, one which is intended to be sensitive to the “psychology” of the situation while also paying attention to effective business practices. Thus the emphasis throughout the consultation process is on open communication, conflict resolution, role clarification, goal setting, family ethics, and the satisfaction of family members with the family, the business, and each other, while keeping a clear eye on the profitability and sustainability of the business.

The consultation process usually includes these steps. In the initial phase, I will meet with family members to determine the nature of the problem(s). This is followed by an evaluation phase, during which I collect data by interviewing individual family members (and spouses). This phase may take several meetings for each participant(s) in order to get a clear idea of everyone’s point of view and concerns about the business. Honesty and openness about ideas and feelings regarding the family and the business is vital for a successful outcome. However, a participant may on occasion want to discuss something “in confidence”. This can be agreed to; however, as the ultimate goal is to encourage open and honest communication among the family, those who seek such confidentiality will be encouraged to eventually find appropriate ways to discuss matters openly with the family.

Once the evaluation phase is completed, I will meet with the entire family (possibly at your place of business), present my analysis, and present my findings, and offer suggestions to address problems and issues that have been identified.

The findings of the evaluation phase are then acted upon. This may include efforts to improve boundaries between business and home; working through long-standing family conflicts (or outright feuds); easing the transfer of control of the company from one generation to the next; facilitating open and direct communication; problem resolution; clarification of lines of authority; clarification of individual roles (duties) in the business; accountability; fairness; and setting goals for the future, among others.”