Special Issue: Sibling Rivalry

June 26, 2023 - Issue #92

'Succession' Hits Close to Home at Family Firms A family business advisor finds more than a few similarities between the HBO hit and real families. This issue shows how to minimize the rancor.

Advice for Untangling Conflict in a Family Business Janme Sinha of Boston Consulting Group talks about how soft emotional issues and hard business issues can tear families apart.

How Family Dynamics Shape Family Businesses Want your family business to run more smoothly? Examine your own relationships with parents, siblings and other relatives -- and talk to one another often.

How Family Firms Can Prevent (or Cool Down) Sibling Rivalries Koch Industries, McCain Foods and Robert Mondavi were all roiled by sibling battles. These three strategies will help you prevent it.

Future Family Business Owners Can Learn to Manage Conflict This classroom exercise dissects the five approaches to managing disputes, and their likely outcomes.

Playing the Succession Game to Ensure Family Business Continuity Game theory provides a mathematical way to look at sibling competition and its emotional costs -- and suggests insights for achieving the best outcome.

Lessons From the Perdue and Sheraton Families on Getting Along Mitzi Perdue, author of a book about family businesses and widow of Frank and daughter of a Sheraton Hotels founder, shares lessons about family harmony.

How to Fix Succession Conflicts Stemming From Complicated Families Warring ex-spouses, far-flung families...Part 2 of our two-part series looks at how to fix succession challenges that are already underway.

What Families in Conflict Can Learn from Baseball and Teachers Using a hybrid of mediation and arbitration offers a real chance to preserve family relationships during a difficult period of conflict.

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The Making of Successful Female Family-Enterprise Leaders

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

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

How to Run a Family Business Successfully

by Kerry Hannon

Outside Leadership Can Save the Family Business

by Robert Sher

5 Practical Tips for Making Business Decisions With Family Members

by Rostyslav Vovk