How to Work With Family Without Ruining the Relationship
About this episode
What happens when your business partner is also your mum?
Working with family can be one of the most rewarding things you do in business. It can also be one of the hardest. For Janine Williams and Eboni Fogerty, building The Epiphany Group together has meant learning where the family relationship ends and the business relationship begins.
In this episode, Janine and Eboni share what they have learned from building a business together as mother and daughter, while also helping other family-owned businesses navigate conflict, succession, growth and leadership. They discuss why family dynamics can follow you into the boardroom, why the next generation sometimes needs to leave before they can successfully return, and what happens when a parent has to step back and let their child take control.
They also explore how to separate family issues from business issues, why difficult conversations are essential, and how trust, respect and self-awareness can make or break a family business.
Key takeaways
Family and business need different rules
Family relationships bring years of history and emotion into business decisions. Clear boundaries separate what matters to the family from what is best for the business.
The next generation needs room to grow
Sometimes the best thing a parent can do is step back. Leaving the business can give the next generation the experience, maturity and confidence they need before returning.
Trust makes difficult conversations possible
Every family business faces fear, ego, control and conflict. A foundation of trust and respect lets you have those conversations without destroying the relationship.
In this episode
- 00:00When Sunday lunch becomes Monday’s board meeting
- 02:00How The Epiphany Group untangles family and business
- 04:30Why the family dining table can matter
- 06:00The role of an objective third party
- 08:00What happens when family dynamics enter the business
- 13:00Why the next generation sometimes needs to leave
- 18:40Why Janine and Eboni don’t have a reporting relationship
- 35:34When parents hold their children back
- 38:42When Janine will step away
- 40:21The biggest warning about working with family
The full transcript is coming soon.
Host
Planning succession in your family business?
Our board advisory gives family businesses the objective voice in the room that this episode talks about.
Board advisory
The Epiphany
How to Scale a Business Without Losing Its Culture
Donato D’Angola & Alex KarpouzisAzzurri Concrete
The Epiphany
Is It a Family Problem or a Business Problem?
Janine Williams & Eboni FogertyThe Epiphany Group
The Epiphany
Is Your Business Ready to Grow?
Liam Kinna & Allanah JohnsonThe Epiphany Group
Working with family in your business? Let’s talk.
Whether you’re navigating succession, working through family dynamics or trying to grow without everything depending on you, The Epiphany Group can help you get clear on what comes next.
Book your free discovery call