Over the years, I've immersed myself in the heart of numerous family-run enterprises, both through direct employment and decades of consulting. What has consistently emerged is a poignant narrative: the ascension of second or third-generation family members into roles they've inherited rather than earned. Invariably, these individuals are handed titles and responsibilities far beyond their capabilities.

This fatal pattern has sown the seeds of disaster within these businesses. Non-family employees find themselves reporting to ill-equipped relatives who navigate waters they scarcely understand. The result? Friction, wasted energy, and a profound deficit in trust and respect.

My counsel echoes through the corridors of these enterprises: family members must embark on the same journey as any other employee, starting from the ground up. Yet, this wisdom often falls on deaf ears as courage eludes the family's decisions.

Regrettably, non-family members often find themselves at a crossroads, forced to depart due to intolerable levels of disrespect. Family voices drown out the chorus of dissent, forsaking dialogue for monologue, and shunning questions to avoid exposing their own perceived inadequacies.

The dysfunctional core of these families lies in their inability to listen with empathy, trapped within the confines of their own perspectives. They lack the essential qualities of empathy and courage, perpetuating a cycle of distrust that breeds the toxic embrace of control.