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Working in a family business can be a pleasent and rewarding experience, for both family members and "outsiders" alike. But, there are also many pitfalls. Perhaps you're an "outsider" and feel like you need to pick up the slack of a family member that's not pulling their weight. In most companies, you could simply complain to your boss. After all, every team member should work equally hard, right? The problem is that you don't work for a "normal" company. You work for a family business, and your colleague is closely related to the boss. That makes things a bit more complicated. So, what do you do? How do you handle difficult situations involving family members in a family-run company? In this article, we review the pros and cons of working in a family business – both for family members and for outsiders – and we discuss some strategies for creating and managing successful working relationships in a family-business environment. Issues for Family MembersIf you work in your family's business, you probably already know that it can be a complex environment. Here's an example: imagine that your mom owns the company you work for. You're heading the advertising department and have a unique, innovative idea for the next marketing campaign. When you pitch the idea to your mom, however, she's less than enthusiastic. And instead of bringing up impersonal, practical reasons for not going along with your idea, she brings up mistakes you made years ago, before you even started working for the company. In a family company, there's often no such thing as a "fresh start." Like everything in life, working with your family has its pros and cons: Pros of Working for Your Family
Cons of Working for Your Family
Issues for Non-Family MembersIf you work for a family business, and you're an "outsider" – not a member of the family circle – then your position can be challenging. For instance, you've been at a family-run company for almost five years. And yet, you've never had any kind of performance review. You're not sure if the work you're doing could be improved, or even if the owner has an opinion on the changes you've implemented in the company. You'd like more responsibilities, but it doesn't seem like there's any kind of procedure in place for reviews or promotions.
Should you proactively ask for a review, or will this be considered too meddlesome since you're "outside the family?" As an outsider looking in, it can be hard to know what to do. Just like for the family members, there are several pros and cons here: Pros of Working in a Family Business
Cons of Working in a Family Business
Strategies for Success in a Family BusinessWhether you're an outsider, or part of the "ruling family," you can use several strategies to succeed in this environment. Family Members
Non-Family Members
Working in a family business has its advantages and disadvantages. Whether you're an outsider, or one of the family members, succeeding in a family-run company can be challenging. If you're part of the family, keep emotional conflicts out of the office. Treat family and non-family staff equally, and make sure rewards are based on performance, not family relationships. If you're an outsider, don't take sides in family battles. Stay neutral, and take a day off if things really get bad. Recognize your role in the company – and if you're looking for major advancement, and the family doesn't often promote non-family members, it might be time to reconsider your options. To learn more about working in a family business, our Book Insight on 'Family Wars' is an informative resource.
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