Hug of War - Cathy Carroll pt1

The Family Business Podcast

Summary

Cathy Carroll, author of 'Hug of War', discusses the unique challenges of leading a family business with both love and logic. She explores the concept of polarities in family businesses, where opposing forces such as candor and diplomacy, or reveal and conceal, coexist and create tension.

Cathy emphasizes the importance of adopting a 'both-and' mindset to find innovative solutions that incorporate the benefits of both sides. She also addresses the issues of domain crossover, where power is used in one domain to influence the other, and shadow influence, where individuals without formal roles or ownership wield significant power within the business.

In this conversation, Cathy Carroll discusses the concept of shadow influence and how it can impact leadership in a family business. She shares examples of shadow influence, both positive and negative, and emphasizes the importance of understanding and managing polarities in a family business. Cathy also highlights the challenges and opportunities of the family mindset in succession planning and the value of constructive conflict in navigating family business dynamics.

Takeaways

Family businesses face unique challenges due to the coexistence of opposing forces or polarities.

Adopting a 'both-and' mindset allows for innovative solutions that incorporate the benefits of both sides of a polarity.

Domain crossover occurs when power is used in one domain to influence the other, which can create tension and unfairness.

Shadow influence refers to individuals without formal roles or ownership who wield significant power within the business.

Recognizing and addressing these dynamics is crucial for effective leadership in family businesses. Shadow influence can have a significant impact on leadership in a family business, whether it is hidden or transparent.

Understanding and managing polarities is crucial in a family business, as they can create both challenges and opportunities.

The family mindset plays a role in succession planning, and it is important to navigate the tensions between the leading and rising generations.

Constructive conflict is essential in a family business, as it allows for the exploration of different ideas and perspectives.

Engaging in brave conversations and addressing conflict in a productive way can lead to better outcomes in a family business.

You can buy the book here: https://www.legacyonward.com/hug-of-war

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If what I have spoken about in the show resonates and you want to discuss how I can help you and your family business drop me an email: [e-mail] or head over to www.familybusinesspartnership.com

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