Emotional Intelligence (EI): The Pillar of Strength in Family Business Culture

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is key for family businesses. This post explores how self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation can transform family ties into business assets, fostering a culture of professionalism. Learn strategies for embedding EI in your family enterprise, and pave the way for a harmonious, successful legacy.

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Beyond Overthinking: Practical Tips for Positive Self-Reflection

Explore the fine line between rumination and reflection. Learn to recognize the signs of harmful overthinking and embrace constructive self-analysis. Grounded in psychological research, this post offers simple yet profound strategies for turning inward musings into positive change.

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Harnessing Conflict in the Family Business

Discover ways to navigate conflict in family businesses through emotional intelligence and open communication, turning challenges into opportunities for innovation and strengthened relationships.

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Going Slow to Go Fast Pays Off

This mini case study is designed to help you learn how pausing helps you prepare for and move through significant transition points in your family business.

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When the Crisis Ends the Hard Work Begins... Are You Ready?

As we come to grips with this surreal environment the focus shifts to helping business owners identify their best options for surviving the crisis with an eye toward thriving during recovery.

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Snowflake Effects in the Business...

Snowflakes are one of nature’s most intriguing structures. Closely held businesses with multiple shareholders (particularly family businesses) are very much like a snowflake.

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4 Things Skilled Leaders Prudently Manage = PACI

Manifestation of power, authority, control, and influence (*PACI) among shareholders and employees in closely held businesses serve as leading indicators for the likelihood of success at points of significant transition.

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Dinosaurs In The Workplace

The dinosaur effect results from leaders having blind spots about how their words and actions impact staff, derail alignment, and erode organizational outcomes.

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5 Tips for Effective Problem Framing

In framing a problem we set the psychological parameters against which we endeavor to solve the problem. A mis-framed problem will have mis-framed solutions.

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#1 Reason Succession Fails & How to Get it Right

When I met Aaron and Janet they were engaged in their third attempt at family succession. In many ways this attempt is no different than the first two abandoned attempts.

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9 Pain Points Owners Face & How to Fix What’s Broken 

Owners report experiencing these 9 pain points when working with advisors…

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Conflict: Learning to Embrace It!

“Conflict”… what is the first thought, feeling, or image that crossed your mind when you read that word?

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Axial: Why Successful Exits Start With Psychology

Axial talked to Dr. Allie Taylor about how Orange Kiwi is different from a typical advisory firm, the most surprising thing she uncovered in her research on business owners, and more.

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1+1 = 44? The Exponential Complexity of Multi-Owner Business Transition

Successful entrepreneurial owners are: dynamic, resilient, driven, focused, goal-oriented and the businesses they build tend to reflect this nature.

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Family Business Podcast: The Psychology of Succession

Allie Taylor recently participated in a podcast hosted by Russell Haworth of the Family Business Podcast in the UK.

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2017: The Art of Reflection Bears Fruit

The art of reflection does not come naturally when you are “wired” with a bias toward action and execution. It was not until a mentor challenged me to create space for reflection that I realized its power.

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Beating Business Transition (Sale/Scale/Succession) Odds - New Research

Owner experience, advisor observations, academic literature, and popular books agree – significant transitions (scale, sale, succession) fail more often than they succeed in the low to mid-market business environment.

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7 Steps to Improve Management Team Decision-Making

Decision-making is the single most important function of a management team, yet few spend any time thinking about the ruthless pursuit of effective decisions.

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