Family Communication How We Talk to Each Other Monday, November 5, 2007

1. Family Communication How We Talk to Each Other Monday, November 5, 2007

2. Goals This Afternoon Understand family and business meetings Learn how to establish a Family Council Strengthen family communication skills

3. Starting Point Who has a regular, structured Board meeting? A Family Council Meeting? What does your family need to talk about?

4. AMERICA “Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations” MEXICO “Father-Merchant Son-Playboy Grandson-Peasant” ITALY “From the stables to the stars and back to the stables in three generations” CHINA “Peasant shoes to peasant shoes in three generations”

5. CANADA Opportunity to learn from families around the world

6. What’s the Problem?

7. The Three Circles Ownership Family Business

8. FAMILY BUSINESS Emotion based Task based Mission: to Mission: profitability nurture family Competency rules Equality rules Temporary Permanent relationships Conflicting Purpose relationships Exploit change Resistant to change

9. Governance The processes, principles, structures and relationships that help organisations realise their vision and objectives.

10. Managing Complexity Three separate governance structures within one family business system: 1. Family organisation 2. Business organisation 3. Shareholder organisation

11. Purpose Recognise and resolve shareholder issues Ownership Family Business Build and continue enterprise Professionalise family culture, activities, values

12. Starting Point Family Governance 1. Address the issues and assumptions 2. Create a family governance structure: Family Consitution Mission Statement Family Council 3. Maintain regular communication: Retreats 4. Spend quality time together 5. Monitor progress

13. Complex Relationships Five people, 10 relationships

14. More Complexity Nine people, 36 relationships

15. Complexity in the Family System Successor asks father about retirement plans Son talks to other family members Father sees son as a threat Father criticises son’s work performance Son convinced that father should retire Son sees Father as out of touch

16. Communication Skills “We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are. We do not hear things as they are, we hear them as we are.” The Talmud

17. Start the Discussion UNSPOKEN SPOKEN DISCUSSIBLE

18. Use Active Listening Skills Attending Inquiry Restating Acknowledging

19. Speak from Your Perspective Use “I” statements State what you’ve observed Describe the impact on you Ask for what you need

20. Build on Strengths What works well now? What are common values? What are areas for improvement?

21. Guidelines for Family Meetings Define responsibilities How are members appointed/retire? How does the group agree? How does it relate to other entities? Length of office How decisions are recorded Must have a chairperson

22. Agree how to Agree

23. Types of Family Business Football Cousin Syndicate Sibling Partnership Tennis Owner Managed Golf c. John Ward PhD

24. Setting up a Family Council Structure Objectives Inclusiveness

25. Create Structure Schedule regular meetings Formal Agenda Rotating Chair Bring in outside expertise

26. Set Objectives Become a learning family Promote family discussion Define family values, mission, vision Build trust and understanding Develop decision-making process Keep family members informed

27. Be Inclusive Consider extended family Encourage participation Track attendance Ensure equal playing field

28. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Peter Drucker

29. How to Reach Us Jennifer East Founder ONIDA Coaching + Consulting Inc. 396 Brunswick Avenue, Unit 2 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 2Z4 T: 416 922 8973 F: 416 922 9629 E: jennifer@onida.ca W: www.onida.ca