“Emotion eats Logic for breakfast. It laughs at Commercial Commonsense … and makes fools of Business Families”.
Family Conflict in Family Business
Family Conflict
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Family conflict in a family creates tension; family conflict in a Family Business creates disputes.
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Family disputes get nasty when they bypass logic; Family Business disputes corrupt problem solving and decision making processes.
The results can be deadly - for the family and the business.
Starting a dispute resolution process is daunting, but it’s better than doing nothing - which just defers the arrival of bigger problems.
Families are supposed to be environments of respect, loyalty, nurture and trust, but they are often not like that, especially when a family business is involved, and particularly when peacemakers go missing in action, through choice, age, infirmity, exhaustion, or a host of other causes.
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Feelings of disappointment and betrayal create resentment and suspicion. They lead to dysfunction, and worse.
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Family conflict in Family Business crashes family systems against business systems:
Nurture fights Nature - the family’s desire to protect the weak competes directly with the business’s need to be competitive, efficient and profitable.
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This requires solutions that are family-sensitive AND commercially responsible. And that’s not-so-easy to achieve, as it crosses and re-crosses a lot of lines.
Saving the family and the business requires an empathic, multi-dimensional, non-destructive approach that addresses Individual + Family + Business needs and interests, without sacrificing anyone, or anything, during the process.
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This is about as complicated as real world dispute resolution can get. Having observed otherwise excellent conventional processes failing to deliver in multiple family contexts, we set out to build a better mousetrap. The result: SODR, for Families.
SODR (Solution-Oriented Dispute Resolution), for Families
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SODR Is a complete system for resolving disputes and conflicts. It’s especially effective for family business disputes.
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Key Features
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Re-establishes discipline and authority in the family.
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Resolves conflicts; repairs and may even strengthen relationships.
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Private, pragmatic, flexible and very family-sensitive.
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Extremely quick, time-efficient and cost-effective.
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Guaranteed results. Once started, nobody can stop the process.
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Better than doing nothing.
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Far less costly and damaging than litigation.
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Provides closure for individuals, families, and businesses.
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Protects family peacemakers from being consumed in the fires of family rage.
SODR, for Families - Process Contract
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At Commencement: family members agree terms of a formal, written Process Contract, including: (a) options to suit their family; (b) participation ground rules and procedures; (c) personal responsibilities and accountabilities; (d) consensus building; (e) implementing agreed actions; (f) consequences, effects and enforcement of outcomes.
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SODR Process
3 Phases: (1) Facilitation (2) Determination (3) Independent Decision
Phase (1) Facilitation (resolves most disputes and conflicts)
Activity: Facilitated family conversations. Individual support, as required.
Outcome: Voluntary Agreement, binding as a contract.
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Phase (2) Determination (resolves most of what’s left)
Activity: Facilitator makes a Determination, based on known information.
Outcome: Written Determination, binding under contract.
Options: (A) Advisory, or (B) Enforceable under Family Rules, or (C) Enforceable at Law, as a contract.
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Phase (3) Independent Decision (rarely required - final solution)
Activity: Issues referred to a neutral, Independent Decision Maker (“IDM”) for a Decision.
Outcome: Written Decision, binding under contract.
Options: (A) Advisory, or (B) Enforceable under Family Rules, or (C) Enforceable at Law, as a contract.