Family unity is at the heart of Christmas

Working over the holidays is a fact of life for most entrepreneurs and their active family members.

And with that reality comes the stress of business and family vying for your attention. What can you do to find a happy balance at holiday time? As a business leader, how do you manage emotions as a result of so many factors?

Emotions cannot be avoided and can aggravate conflict in the family and business. I am also aware just how much of a burden entrepreneurship can take on the active family members.

Understandably, December is a time when many family businesses begin closing the annual books--and family members who had all year to dream about hefty dividends often get disappointed when they realize to their dismay the numbers do not add up.

Stress due to expectations of a bigger dividend share and discovering that the value is smaller can easily be a source of tension, especially when you worked so hard and the sharing is equal among working family members.

In my coaching work all over Asia, I have learned over many years of advising family-owned enterprises that there are several effective strategies you can use to take the pressure off, and I’m happy to share them below to serve as a guide for every family member wishing that the holiday season can be a wonderful occasion to finally bring peace and unity within the family.

Family unity above self

For starters, every family member must look at the big picture and be reminded that family unity must be the overarching value over anything! Those who feel aggrieved must never forget that whatever hurts they are going through must give way to a mindset that espouses stewardship and a vision of a happy, secure future for all family members.

Create a growth vision to inspire the next gen

The key is, if you want your family to understand stewardship and unity, you have to have some open, honest discussions about the future. I am in Singapore now, and a couple of families from other countries flew here to meet me precisely to reinforce the importance of family unity and vision. When there is family unity, harmony follows. When there is a powerful vision, growth naturally follows.

On top of a governance compass that we crafted two years ago, we also created a succession process on how to transition the successful business to the next generation set of leaders comprising five adult children.

There is no success without succession

Succession can be a complex event but when there is ample time to prepare, the transition and wealth transfer phase can be a wonderful and joyous event for the family. To quote Erramon “Montxu” Aboitiz, a fourth generation president and chief executive officer of listed firm Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV):

“We have passed the baton down seven times since the company’s beginnings in 1889. Sustainability is key in the company and that AEV has always taken very seriously the capability to pass the company down generation to generation.”

The 130-year-old Aboitiz family runs one of the largest and oldest conglomerates in the Philippines. They have a constitution to ensure the sustainability of its wide range of businesses and have strictly followed family governance rules. That is why they continue to reap the benefits of a successful business generation after generation.