Our Latest Articles

November 20, 2023 - Issue #102

Here's Why Family Businesses Need Branding For family firms, branding is not about marketing but about reputation -- how customers, employees, suppliers and others perceive them.

Keep the Founder's Entrepreneurial Spirit Alive in Future Generations While entrepreneurship often creates the family's wealth, making it part of the family culture and legacy is another matter entirely. Here's how.

Good Intentions Can Sow Dysfunction at Family Businesses A family business advisor talks about what well-meaning families get wrong about succession, conflict, and salaries, and what they can learn from watching "Cake Boss."

Help Your Family Business by Helping Others Philanthropy can be a catalyst for leadership development, and generate support and good will towards the business in the community.

Do You Treat In-Laws Like the Family Business Outlaws ? Families differ in their willingness to integrate outsiders into their family circle, but be careful: these actions influence the included or excluded individuals in different ways.

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Family Business Succession, Innovation, and Compensation: What You Need to Know A family business scholar and a consultant discuss family values; succession planning; compensation for family and non-family members; and being bold without burning through resources.

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Everyday Gratitude in Times of Uncertainty

How to Boost Your Board's Performance

Separate Family Offices Can Minimize Money Problems

Women Encourage Candor at Family Businesses

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Recent

Family Firms Must Address Mental Health Challenges

by Andrew Keyt / Commentary

Anxiety, depression, and other challenges disrupt business operations and strain relationships. Ignoring them won’t make them go away. Read more...

Involve Next-Gens in Developing Your Social Media Policy

by Claudia Binz Astrachan, Tom Rüsen, and Rebecca DeYarman / Practice Insight

Consider a social media policy as a relatively “low-hanging fruit” to introduce the next generation to family governance work. Read more...

Family Businesses Can Learn From the Battling Brothers of Oasis

by Salvatore Sciascia / Commentary

Fighting caused Liam and Noel Gallagher to throw away 18 years of work. Family firms must do these five things to avoid the same fate. Read more...

Employees With Toxic Traits Can Still Be An Asset at Family Firms

by Benjamin McLarty and Daniel T. Holt / Research Insight

The emotional connection that families have with their companies can encourage good performance -- even from employees with narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. Read more...

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan

Retirement Options and their Consequences for Small Business Owners

by Valeria Alterman and Ariane Froidevaux

The Biggest Mistakes Family Businesses Make With Their Boards

by Kimberly Eddleston

Future Family Business Owners Can Learn to Manage Conflict

by Ritch Sorenson

'Performance-Enhancing Vices': Good for Business, Bad for Relationships

by Kimberly Eddleston and David Werdiger

How to Run a Family Business Successfully

by Kerry Hannon