Open, full and meaningful communication is one of the principal ingredients of success in a family business. Yet achieving and sustaining this desirable condition among the family members can be both difficult and challenging.

Communication problems in the family business often arise from an inability to express and discuss differences openly. The problems also can be traced to the discomfort that can come from bringing the traditional family relationship roles into the business. Many family members expect that the environment of the business is merely an extension of the family “at home” culture and expect communication to be handled accordingly.

Boldly announcing to a family member that they are wrong or that a subject is closed before it is opened, is not usually the way to achieve understanding in business. Often family business members do not realize that the environment that may exist at home is not necessarily healthy for the business.

A simple tool such as the Family Business Communication Profile can prove valuable as a means of identifying differences in style and approach which, once recognized, can lead to better communication. The Profile offers the family members an opportunity to open and maintain dialogue, which should encourage open, full and meaningful communication in your family business.

The Profile is simple to use. First, rate yourself on each characteristic, then rate another family member on the same characteristic. Next, have the family member that you chose to profile do the same: that is, rate themselves, and then rate you.

After this has been accomplished, compare the results. Do you perceive yourself and the family member you selected in the same way? Do they perceive themselves and you the same as you do?

Use this questionnaire to identify and compare similarities. Then discuss the differences. Such discussions can pave the way to better communications for both of you. Once you each come to understand and accept the differences, you can begin to use the differences constructively for the improvement of both your communications and the business.

For each of the following questions, use the following 1 to 5 scale to rate yourself and your family member. a scale of 1 to 5 with these interpretations:

1 and 2: “Not Enough”

3: “OK”

4 and 5: “Desirable”

CHARACTERISTICS

1.  Drive and Energy

Do you have the tenacity and stamina required for the responsibilities of leadership?

2.  Self-Confidence

Do you change your mind frequently?

3.  Commitment

Are you truly committed to your family business?

4.  Management of People

Do you delegate both authority and responsibility in your family business?

5.  Problem Solving

Do you pursue problems until they are solved? (There can be different reactions to problems: Refusing to do anything until the problem is solved, giving up, dealing with other issues first or studying the problem as an excuse to gain time, to describe a few.)

6.  Planning

Do you adhere strictly to the plans you set?

7. Dealing with Failure

Do you refuse to acknowledge personal failure?

8. Use of Feedback

Do you invite and use feedback regularly whether it is negative or not?

9.  Taking Initiative

Do you wait for someone else to be first, even a competitor? Is your style to be second?

10. Taking Risks

How do you take risks? A successful business person usually takes moderate risks. What type of a risk taker are you?

Complete the Profiles for the family members in the business. Consider how they compare. Start your discussion by identifying similarities, and then move on to the differences. Do you agree on your differences? Do you understand why the differences exist? Can you learn to respect the differences and use the differences constructively in the best interest of the business?

Using the Family Business Profile as a basis for understanding can open the door to two of the most important words in the lexicon of family business: “Let’s talk.”