How to Start and Organize a Family Council

Abstract

A meeting of the entire family is an ideal way to start a family council. At this meeting it’s important for the whole group to hear what the goals are, get everyone’s feedback, reach a consensus, and set a course of action. However, family councils do not always begin in such an open and organized way. When starting a family council, business families must change from their current way of doing things to a new, unfamiliar, and more formal way of working together. For example, you are probably used to several traditions that are part of your family’s culture, such as:

• Uneven communication—some family members have strong relationships with each other and may speak more frequently with each other, and those who are more deeply involved in the business will interact more often.

• Dominant decision making—many families follow the lead of one or two members or adopt an informal consensus approach that relies on people to speak up if they disagree with the direction being taken.

• Prevailing planning—in many cases planning works like decision making, or there may be individuals in the family who enjoy planning, and they may be the same ones who are most engaged in planning all family events.

• Informal rule making—though not typically associated with an informal family structure, unwritten rules exist for many families, often concerning traditions or holidays.