39 Critical Questions
 By
Henry D. Landes
March 1999
Thoughtfully managing a family business is a lot like thoughtfully
managing your money. You can’t just turn the whole process
over to outsiders no matter how professional they may be. No one
will invest the same amount of care, concern, and accountability
as will the family members involved.
However, few things are as fraught with peril and as emotionally
charged as the inter-personal dynamics of families in business.
I see it all the time. It is this very reality that gives meaning
to the work of our Delaware Valley Family Business Center. We’re
partners with business families, but we cannot do their work. They
must do their own hard work.
That’s what I believe and that’s what I teach and
counsel those with whom I work.
Last year I enjoyed serving as an instructor for Delaware Valley
College’s new family business course. We worked with representatives
from eight area family businesses toward developing the skills to
manage the family part of a family business.
Skills for the business part are easier to gain and come more
naturally. Gaining the tools for skillfully integrating the family
dimension takes practice, sensitivity, lots of communication, some
intuition, and the ability to trust your gut.
As text for the course I’ve come to really appreciate what
Gerald Le Van has to say in his book entitled The
Survival Guide for Business Families. Le Van’s thesis
revolves around business families coming to grips with his list
of core concerns that he has organized into 39 critical questions.
The answers to these questions are the grist for constructive family
communication and help families face the tough issues squarely.
By doing so, families can thrive as well as their businesses.
Le Van points out that frequently there’s a need for a skilled
third party, a professional family business counselor to work with
the family toward answering his 39 questions honestly and effectively.
That’s what our Delaware Family Business Center is all about.
We’re here to help. Let us know if we can help your family
and your business THRIVE.
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