Harvard Business Review Family Business Handbook: How to Build and Sustain a Successful, Enduring Enterprise (HBR Handbooks)

"Handbook" does not do this book justice. As a family business advisor I found this book incredibly thoughtful, well-written, clear, concise and extremely helpful. Not only does it dispel outworn myths like "shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves", but it makes a major contribution to the field by focusing on the need for families in business as well as consultants and advisors to pay close attention to the importance of ownership transitions-has the family had the critical conversations necessary to decide what the next generation of ownership will look like?-"Does the next generation want to be in business together"? seems like a simple question, but it is one in my experience that is often neglected. The authors explain the importance of this question in such a convincing manner with such far ranging implication that I believe it is not hyperbole to suggest that this book will fundamentally affect the approach of any consultant or advisor who reads it.The authors' past experience as consultants ( BCG,Bain ) is clearly evident in this lucid account of how family businesses should be understood and approached. The critical similarities and differences family controlled companies have with non-family owned companies are helpfully delineated. The authors present their " 4 room model " of family businesses. Consultants working with family enterprises will I believe find this model extremely useful and discover it goes a long way toward solving ambiguities that other models often present.Family business owners as well as advisors will find this book highly informative and instructive. They will profit enormously by a careful read.Steven S. Rolfe M.D.

Our family has had the pleasure of working with Banyan for a few years now to improve the systems and governance of our business. This book does a great job of capturing many of the key challenges that a family business faces, and starts laying out the groundwork on how to assess the system's strengths and weaknesses so an appropriate action plan can be developed. I expect this Handbook will also be a useful reference for many of our family members that are less hands-on in the day-to-day work. When you only hear about something like succession planning on an annual basis, it's easy to forget even the basics, and this book can be an accessible refresher for them.Overall, I recommend this book for those in (or even around) a family business. If nothing else, it's very helpful to remember that you're not alone, the situation is not unique, and that others are facing the same challenges your system is dealing with. It's easy to see the negatives and challenges of working with family members, but this helps more objectively identify the strengths and common interests that bind you together, and realize the value of developing a more complete plan for the future.

Finally, a handbook that truly understands the unique challenges and opportunities of family businesses! “Family businesses can represent both the best and worst forms of capitalism,” co-authors Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer write. “At their best, these businesses invest in the long term, in their community, and in working and growing together. At their worst…family businesses are plagued by terrible conflict, destroying their wealth, scores of jobs, and their family relationships in the process.”How do you ensure that your family business avoids that fate? Baron and Lachenauer show you how.The Handbook pays special attention the power of family ownership—and the rights and responsibilities that come with it. Part two of the book explores family business through the lens of the “Five Rights” of ownership, which include choosing the type of family business you want, structuring governance to make great decisions together, creating an owner strategy to define success, communicating within (and outside of) the family to build trust, and navigating the transition to the next generation. There are helpful tools and graphics throughout, including the authors’ signature “Four Room Model” for setting up good governance and Owner Strategy triangle to help a family decide what it most values.Part three of the book walks readers through the myriad day-to-day (and year-to-year) unique challenges of being part of a family business, including coping with death in the family, confronting behavioral health issues, preparing for life under a microscope as a family member, joining the business as an in-law or an outsider, creating the right family employment policy for your family, being responsible with the wealth of your family, and so much more.This is a truly exceptional handbook. Well-written, engaging, and filled with real-life stories, the authors guide readers through the lofty, but important questions (“Does your family business have a purpose?”) to the essential, practical ones (“How do you navigate conflict?” “How do you set pay for family members?” “What if a family employee is not working out?” and so on.) This book is a must-have for the owners of family businesses of all sizes, future owners, advisors, or outsiders who hopes to thrive in a family business. The authors even tackle the question of whether you should choose to make your business a family business at all ("2G or Not 2G?"). Bravo to Baron and Lachenauer and Harvard Business Review for creating an indispensable guide for family businesses that aspire not just to survive, but to thrive, from generation to generation. Highly recommend!

A very readable handbook on family business. A lot of relevant and practical ideas to take family businesses to the next level

The world of family business is so vast, diverse, and understudied, it’s nearly impossible to do it justice. But Baron and Lachenauer somehow managed to do it. With clarity and wit, they separate the truth from trivia. They respect the uniqueness of family businesses from other businesses, along with the differences in business styles among family businesses, without losing sight of the fundamentals and similarities. Family business decisions can be supercharged with emotion — scenes in this book made me want to laugh, cry, and shout out “Exactly!” — but the authors offer terrific tips for how to navigate these shoals. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Great book. Well written, concise and informative. The authors have extensive experience and knowledge they share with us. From our perspective as estate planning attorneys and owners of a small family business this book is an invaluable resource. Well done!Mark NaleJohn NaleNale Law Offices

Great

The book gives amazing insights into day to day challenges faced by family business over a period of time. The content presented is thoroughly researched. It would connect to every individual out there who is part of family business directly or indirectly.

This is a good introductory book for someone that needs broad knowledge about how to manage family businesses.I liked the various conceptual frameworks the authors have developed, they were a useful way to structure my thinking. The book is enjoyable to read and provides good insights in simple language.In the balance between breadth and depth, maybe I would have preferred fewer topics and a bit more depth in each.The case studies presented are useful but at times a bit superficial, and the book would benefit from more examples of successful or unsuccessful family business management practices

Good read and very useful for anyone with a family business.

tudo perfeito