There is much discussion about ethics in business, and of course it is important, but etiquette, sometimes seen as being old fashioned, has a key role to play, particularly in a family business.
Doing business with family and friends can be very rewarding. It can also be very complicated and difficult. To be successful, it always involves an even more stringent standard of etiquette than usual.
But if appropriate measures and safeguards are taken, it can make life, work and relationships a rich, rewarding tapestry that brings the best of both worlds.
As accredited Family Business Advisers we make some suggestions for maintaining familial bliss as well as a sound business:
- Courtesy: It is as important to be as courteous to your family as it is to strangers. We sometimes become too ‘familiar’ with family members just because we see them every day. We take for granted that they’ll put up with our moods in ways other people wouldn’t understand. But other employees may feel awkward seeing these interactions.
- Establish boundaries. Have separate family outings, holidays or weekend activities where you DON’T talk business.
- Be professional in public or at work. Expressions of affection could make other employees feel uncomfortable.
- If you want to be alone together or have a private conversation, go away from the company property for an intimate lunch or cup of coffee. But don’t abuse the privilege and allow either person’s duties to be neglected.
- Have very specific policies about reporting relationships and expectations of behaviour to avoid conflicts of interest, sexual harassment, or the potential appearance of either.
- Communication: Be sure the lines of communication to non-family employees are good. Make sure that no one feels disadvantaged for being left out of conversations and decisions that take place around the family dinner table. Keep the appropriate people (based on their role in the company) involved in all decisions.
- Privacy: Don’t talk about your family members’ personal life with other members of your staff, except in terms that are absolutely non-controversial. (Don’t tell your co-workers that you don’t approve of who your daughter is dating, for example, if your daughter works in the next office!)
- Free choice: Make sure each member of the corporate structure has the option to leave the company without impacting the company more than necessary. Don’t assume that a person is a “lifer” just because he or she is a family member. Whether or not they take the “exit clause,” just having one makes people feel less trapped and ensures that they are there by choice.
- Respect each others’ decisions and authority. Keep comments appropriate for your role in the company, rather than your role in the family. And never undermine each other’s authority in front of staff.
- Appreciate the good things about each other. It becomes easy to focus on the negative when you spend a lot of personal AND professional time together. Remember (and point out) what you admire and love about one another.
