50 Common Causes of Family Business Conflict ... and how to deal with them
Audio No 35: Discipline (lack of).
• Discipline: (a) Internal = self-control and self-regulation; (b) External = system of controls + enforcement measures + consequences for non-compliance.
• Lack of discipline = lack of accountability.
• Extreme situations, threats that threaten the family and the business.
• The concept of discipline is often ignored or dismissed in a mature family context, as family conflict experts, we constantly deal with the results of poor family discipline that’s been transferred into a family business.
• In essence, internal and external discipline are designed to ensure good and appropriate behaviours in relevant environments.
• Personality differences mean that:
o Some family members stick by the rules, while others don’t, conflict.
o Some family members are self-disciplined in the absence of rules, while others are not, conflict.
• When Parents provide unequal / unbalanced support for different children, conflict.
Solution:
• Discuss and agree behavioural expectations and rules, as a family.
• Use an experienced adviser to facilitate the process.
• Transfer outcomes into the business.
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