FACILITATED FAMILY BUSINESS MEETINGS WORK FOR FAMILIES WHO WANT TO PRESERVE IMPORTANT FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND MAKE SMART BUSINESS DECISIONS AS WELL
Families who own substantial assets or who own a family business often have the need to collaborate and plan together to preserve and grow their assets and/or their business for the next generation. They do not necessarily have conflicts with each other, but rather they simply recognize that with more than two family members, the likelihood of having a more meaningful and productive family meetings is much higher when a third party neutral is present to facilitate.
The benefit of a competent facilitator is in helping convene the family, creating the structure for a meaningful agenda and facilitating the meeting in a support role or in a leadership role. The facilitator’s role is to ensure the opportunity for quality dialogue and questioning, the exploration of various ideas, the opportunity for quality decision making both strategically and collaboratively, and the opportunity to discuss sensitive or difficult situations as they may arise, from time to time. Families who have substantial wealth or a family business welcome the role of the neutral facilitator, who is also experienced in such family and financial matters and conflicts. The use of a neutral facilitator helps to preserve important family relationships and to make smart business decisions.
The family may also choose to have others present at the facilitated meetings, including wealth advisors or family business or trust and estate attorneys. These resources too welcome the role of the neutral facilitator who helps to ensure that everyone has spoken and has understood information and options, which are discussed.
Family Business Mediators and Facilitators of Louise Phipps Senft & Associates/Baltimore Mediation believe in Better Process…Better Outcome.
Testimonial:
“For the very first time in my life, I genuinely feel that someone listened to me and was able to help me convey my feelings to my father. I still don’t know if he really “gets it”, but at least I feel that my concerns were made clear. Louise really understood my position in the family and listened and processed what I was saying. She did a great job of helping me convey my feelings to my father. It’s also a huge benefit to have the agenda and summary in writing so that there are no excuses for either one of us to make.
Thanks so much! You should all be proud of your work.” – Anonymous, Financial Investment Family Business