Leadership for Turbulent Times

April 14, 2025 - Issue #140

Tariffs, Turmoil, and Family Tiffs: Navigating the Current Chaos You can support your business through economic uncertainty and maintain unity and commitment.

The 7 Gears of Leadership, And When to Use Each One Leaders acquire tremendous human capacities as they rise to the top. Their challenge is to deploy the right strength for each difficult situation.

How to Care for Your Team During a Crisis This advice from one of our best-read articles in 2020 still rings true for startups, small businesses and family ventures who are trying to hang on until things stabilize.

Using Humble Language Can Drive Market Success Businesses in trouble can reap benefits by displaying humility – but the rules differ for family and non-family firms.

Women Show Their Strengths When Family Businesses are in Trouble Even in countries where men dominate, women proved to be innovators in times of crisis, a Honduras study showed.

Should Former Leaders Stay Involved in the Family Firm? The successor's readiness for the top role, and the firm's age and experience with previous successions, are main factors to consider.

Timeless Wisdom for Turbulent Times Frank Knight’s work, though written over a century ago, provides insights for navigating the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship.

Your CEO Affects How Outsiders Perceive Your Brand Family or non-family leader? Your choice depends on the age of the firm, and can ultimately affect how the media and outside stakeholders see you.

How Family Businesses Can Recruit the Best C-Suite Candidates Family-owned businesses often struggle to compete with non-family firms when it comes to recruitment, and understanding the expectations of job seekers is crucial to attract the best talent.

Four Things that the Best Family Business Boards Do Well Independent directors hold others accountable and encourage change even when firmly entrenched relationships or operating philosophies make it seem impossible.

Assessments Can Help Develop Family Business Leaders From simple surveys or interviews to complex, statistically robust reporting, assessments give current and future leaders a source of objective data for better decision-making.

Search & Save Enter search below to create an easy reading list

Why Don't You Educate Your Owners?

Women: Prepare to Lead Your Family Firm

Outside Leadership Can Save the Family Business

Why Family Business Founders Struggle to Step Back During Succession

Popular Topics

Money

Financing, revenue, profits

Team

Staffing, succession, relationships

Manage

Best practices for running the business

Grow

Increase customers and revenue

Strategy

Making better decisions

Operations

How the best firms run

Recent

Fair Does Not Always Mean Equal: Ownership Decisions in Family Business

by Claudia Binz Astrachan, Lindsay Hardie, and Joseph Astrachan / Practice Insight

Families often struggle to decide whether shares should be divided equally among children or reflect leadership, sacrifice, and “sweat equity.” Read more...

Why Family Business Strengths Can Become Weaknesses in a Crisis

by Michael Kuttner / Research Insight

Family businesses often rely on loyalty, long-term thinking and strong relationships. But research shows those same strengths can backfire when crisis hits. Read more...

Can a Family Stay a Business Family After Selling the Business?

by Clemens Krüger, Christian-Titus Klaiber, and Reinhard Prügl / Research Insight

A study of German family firms shows that regular, meaningful contact between the family office and the family can preserve shared purpose after an exit. Read more...

Strong Family Businesses Think Short Term and Long Term at the Same Time

by Vanessa Diaz Moriana, Eric Clinton, Catherine Faherty, and Colm O'Gorman / Research Insight

In a crisis, family firms cannot afford to focus only on immediate survival or future legacy. The most resilient ones do both, drawing on past lessons, trusted relationships, and long-standing networks. Read more...

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan

Things to Consider When Transferring Family Business Ownership

by Susan Lanz, Gary Burke, Kajsa Haag, and Omid Omidvar

How to Run a Family Business Successfully

by Kerry Hannon

Let the Next Generation of Family Firm Leaders Chart Their Own Path

by Klaus Lüber and Nadine Kammerlander

How Leaders Can Transfer Their Great Instincts to Successors

by Kimberly Eddleston

The Hidden Fault Lines That Threaten Family Enterprises

by Matthew Crudgington and Peter Vogel