Jon Kenfield, Author at The Solutionist Group

Family Business Conflict Video No 6: In Laws, Outlaws & Extended, Blended Families. By Jon Kenfield.

Common Causes of Family Conflict & How to Deal with Them. Video 6: In Laws, Outlaws & Extended, Blended Families. Increasingly complicated family structures. Family policy: inclusion / exclusion? Communication breakdowns. Partners are loyal to their micro-family units. Pillow talk and nagging disrupts agreements developed. Solution: agree family policy for inclusion / exclusion (prepare to […]

Family Business Conflict Video No 5: Fossilised Leaders. By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.

Common Causes of Family Conflict & How to Deal with Them. Video 5: Fossilised Leaders. Living longer, later retirement: personal / financial / alternatives. Increasing numbers of businesses led by older people 70+. Some good, many bad. Fossilised: all faculties, more risk-averse, less agile and able to make important decisions. No desire for change. Successors […]

Family Business Conflict Video No 4: Unmet Expectations & Broken Promises. By Jon Kenfield.

Common Causes of Family Conflict & How to Deal with Them. Video 4: Unmet Expectations & Broken Promises. Common cause of one-on-one conflict, family cliques. One day my son/daughter, indentured slave. Repressive power play? Financial necessity? Cultural, Ethnic norm? Horrible consequences: conflict, pain & probate litigation. Solution: Family Plan: transparent commitments.

Family Business Conflict Video No 3: Human Diversity, Ages & Stages. By Jon Kenfield. Solutionist.

Common Causes of Family Conflict & How to Deal with Them. Video 3: Human Diversity, Ages & Stages. Session #2 = Psychometric Identification of Personality. Personal & Family tensions through differences that can be positive or negative. Family in Business Life Cycle. Ages & Stages: Age = more risk averse. Financial security. Younger family members […]

Family Business Conflict Video No 2: The Effects of Personality Differences on Family Businesses.

Common Causes of Family Conflict & How to Deal with Them. Video 2: The Effects of Personality Differences on Family Businesses. Common threads and differences. Genetics, generations, ages & stages. Family hierarchy – genetic cloning. Compatible, complementary or antagonistic? Conflict from childhood = emotional baggage. Solution: Psychometric Identification, psych profile = behavioural preference, clues to: […]

Family Business Conflict Video No 1: Common Causes of Family Business Conflict. By Jon Kenfield.

Common Causes of Family Business Conflict – and how to deal with them. Family Business – blessing or curse? Tied in. No escape. Good = unstoppable. Bad = disaster for health, wealth & happiness. Focus (purpose), Structures & Systems required. Attitudes & Skills required. Series will map the terrain, describe the dangers & suggest ways […]

Succession Plan – It’s a Once in a Generation Process, so you better have a Plan

Family business succession should be a process and not an event, because to have any reasonable prospect of success, it needs be planned and executed over a sensible period of time, like any other complex project. 4 Stage Succession Planning Process The following diagram summarises the individual process stages that make up a comprehensive succession […]

Succession Disputes – As if there weren’t enough challenges already

Succession is the process of generational transfer of ownership / leadership / management / employment from one generation to another. Standard wisdom is to make this a process, not an event, preferably over a period of years. Succession usually gains attention when there are reasonably valuable assets involved. And family personalities and relationships are often […]

Strategy Plan – Aligning the Team Around Big Picture Visions for the Future

Strategy refers to big picture objectives and desired directions of travel for a family, business or organisation. “Strategy is for generals, organising an army for battle”. Contrast this with “Tactics” which are for captains, “leading troops into battle”. Strategy is cerebral (thinking), tactics are operational (doing). Strategy Plans provide the framework for the whole planning […]

Meeting Facilitation – An Expert Skill to make Meetings More Productive

A Facilitator is a person who makes something easier for others to understand or do. Facilitators also help to make things happen on behalf of others, in circumstances where they have no interest in the outcome. Facilitators should therefore be apolitical, with no personal interest in the outcomes of the meeting. Meeting facilitation requires the […]