What to Expect When Working in a Family Run Business

By Cheryl Stein
Monster Personal Coach

Being a non family member who works for a family business can be a tricky career path but it can also be one of the most rewarding career choices that you ever make. While you may have to contend with pretty intricate politics, have trouble figuring out who is your real boss, and have to deal with conflict that really belongs at the dinner table the rewards can easily outweigh the difficulties. Family businesses tend to be less focused on quarterly results, have a long range outlook for their businesses and are generally much less bureaucratic than non family owned companies. They are built on blood relationships that can give them an unbreakable strength. If you are considering going to work for a family business or currently work for one, here are some tips to help you keep yourself sane.

Expect Conflict

You can always expect conflict in the workplace but family business conflict is very different than conflict in non family businesses. Because family relationships date back to birth, the conflicts can be the result of family patterns that have emerged over many years. Imagine jealousy for the way an older brother is always treated by a mother or how spoiled a little sister is. While this conflict arises from childhood, it can rear its ugly head in the family office. Often, the intensity of how the conflict is playing out can appear irrational to someone who is not a family member. Understand it for what it is and you won’t be scratching your head wondering why it gets so heated.

Who is your boss?

When working for a family business you may encounter an issue with having more than one boss. If many family members are shareholders, or if many of them work in the business they may all think that you report to them. Before taking on any family business job, make sure to have the company spell out exactly who you will be reporting to and make sure that this information is shared with all the family members who may think that they can tell you what to do.

Steer clear of Office/family politics

Like any other business, family businesses have politics. Do yourself a favor and try to avoid of it. At the end of the day, everyone who is related goes home and is still a family and will most likely work out their problems outside of the office. If you take sides, chances are it will come back to haunt you in the end. Your neutrality may help the family learn to be better together.

The generational transition

You need to know that the most tumultuous time in a family business is when they are going through a generational transfer. Like all leadership transitions, the change of guard from one generation to the next is usually the toughest time to be working with family. The transition is full of emotions that often have nothing to do with business and much more to do with the parent/child relationship.

Be very clear on expectations

To expertly navigate the family business dynamic, be very clear, from the start of your employment, on what you can expect. Setting ground rules and sticking to them can set the tone for a very enjoyable career. It is important to know where you stand. You need to know what is expected of you and the family needs to know what they can expect from you. Create objectives, have job descriptions and insist on having periodic reviews to get proper feedback on your performance.

Be observant about culture

Not all family businesses are a hotbed of conflict and confusion. Some of them are run very professionally. You will be able to pick up on clues at your interview. If the interviewer seems very organized, if it seems like they have very concrete answers to your questions, and if it seems like they are on top of their game, chances are they are a good business to work for. You need to be very aware of what you are getting yourself into if the family business culture is one of chaos.

Go with the flow, don’t swim upstream

Accept the fact that the business exists because of the family and that the family issues are just a part of it. Spending lots of time and energy being upset because of the family dynamic will not get things to change. Acceptance and understanding, along with reminding yourself of what is good about your job, will allow you to keep enjoying going to work.

No job is perfect. No matter where you work, you will always have good days and bad days. You will always like some of your responsibilities and hate others. Working for a family business is no different. It just takes a little time and effort to make sure that you and the family create the foundation for your success.

Cheryl Stein is an Associate Certified Coach, a credential that is designated by the International Coach Federation. For more information, visit Stein Consulting and Coaching.