Leadership for Turbulent Times

April 14, 2025 - Issue #140

Tariffs, Turmoil, and Family Tiffs: Navigating the Current Chaos You can support your business through economic uncertainty and maintain unity and commitment.

Outside Leadership Can Save the Family Business Sometimes the first step forward is for family members to realize they must take a step backward. How to choose wisely from the outside.

How to Care for Your Team During a Crisis This advice from one of our best-read articles in 2020 still rings true for startups, small businesses and family ventures who are trying to hang on until things stabilize.

Using Humble Language Can Drive Market Success Businesses in trouble can reap benefits by displaying humility – but the rules differ for family and non-family firms.

Women Show Their Strengths When Family Businesses are in Trouble Even in countries where men dominate, women proved to be innovators in times of crisis, a Honduras study showed.

Should Former Leaders Stay Involved in the Family Firm? The successor's readiness for the top role, and the firm's age and experience with previous successions, are main factors to consider.

Navigating Uncertainty: Timeless Wisdom for Turbulent Times Frank Knight’s work, though written over a century ago, provides insights for navigating the unpredictable world of entrepreneurship.

Your CEO Affects How Outsiders Perceive Your Brand Family or non-family leader? Your choice depends on the age of the firm, and can ultimately affect how the media and outside stakeholders see you.

How Family Businesses Can Recruit the Best C-Suite Candidates Family-owned businesses often struggle to compete with non-family firms when it comes to recruitment, and understanding the expectations of job seekers is crucial to attract the best talent.

Four Things that the Best Family Business Boards Do Well Independent directors hold others accountable and encourage change even when firmly entrenched relationships or operating philosophies make it seem impossible.

Assessments Can Help Develop Family Business Leaders From simple surveys or interviews to complex, statistically robust reporting, assessments give current and future leaders a source of objective data for better decision-making.

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Why Don't You Educate Your Owners?

Women: Prepare to Lead Your Family Firm

Business Families Must Get Real About Growth and Payouts

ESG Essentials For Family Firms

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Recent

Family Firms: The Time to Learn About AI is Now

by Marek Kolinski and Stephanie Larscheid / Commentary

Like the telephone or the internet, AI is here to stay, and we need to learn how to work with it. Read more...

Why Some Job Seekers Avoid Family Firms

by Duygu Phillips, Kristen Madison, Sandra Wolf, Andreas Hack, and Franz Kellermanns / Research Insight

Family firm branding can make a company appear authentic, but it's also important to convey innovativeness, prestige, and a fair shot at getting ahead. Read more...

Outsource or Hire? Advice for Family Businesses

by Kimberly Eddleston / Interviews

Ben Berger and Ron Nahass of RSM talk about the benefits of letting outside contractors handle critical business functions. Read more...

Generational Experiences Shape Family Business Leaders' Priorities

by Ileana Maldonado, Paul Sanchez, and Annaleena Parhankangas / Research Insight

Beliefs about success, responsibility, and value creation reflect the time and place in which business owners grew up. Religion and strong family ties magnified the impact. Read more...

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan

Consumers Love Local Brands. That's Good News For Family Businesses

by Philipp Jaufenthaler, Andreas Kallmuenzer, Sascha Kraus, and Alfredo De Massis

How Family Businesses Survive Unexpected ‘Wild Cards’

by Wojciech Czakon, Monika Hajdas, and Joanna Radomska

How to Plan for a Successful Succession

by Richard Eisenberg

Too Much Love in the Family Can Hurt

by Ines Herrero and Mat Hughes

Future Family Business Owners Can Learn to Manage Conflict

by Ritch Sorenson