Our Latest Articles

May 18, 2026 - Issue #167

How Leaders Can Transfer Their Great Instincts to Successors A leader's tacit knowledge can make the company more successful, but it's a challenge to understand what's behind it or how to pass it down to next-gens.

The Hidden Fault Lines That Threaten Family Enterprises From death and divorce to disruption and disrepute: these 12 hidden risks can weaken family enterprises over time.

Inside the Family Business Boardroom: How Better Meetings Lead to Better Decisions Board effectiveness isn’t just about who sits at the table—it’s about what happens during the meeting. Research reveals the hidden dynamics shaping family business decisions.

Helping Daughters Become Successful Family Business Leaders Daughters can become strong and credible successors when families involve them early, clarify authority, support professional development, and make room for new models of leadership.

Four Strategy Tools Every Small Business Owner Should Know Porter’s Five Forces, SWOT analysis, customer value propositions, and unit economics are not just for big companies.

Strong Family Businesses Think Short Term and Long Term at the Same Time In a crisis, family firms cannot afford to focus only on immediate survival or future legacy. The most resilient ones do both, drawing on past lessons, trusted relationships, and long-standing networks.

The Hidden Branding Risk for Family Businesses: The Family Becomes the Brand Research shows that when families promote their role in a business, stakeholders judge not only the company but also the family itself.

Too Much Advice Hurts Leader Decision-Making Founders and leaders often seek outside advice to reduce uncertainty, but conflicting counsel can create hesitation instead. Here’s how to turn advice into usable input without losing judgment, speed, or focus.

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AI Is Not Just About Speed -- It's About Smarter Business Decisions

Always Putting Out Fires? Time to Rethink How Work Gets Done

Why Family Business Founders Struggle to Step Back During Succession

Why Family Business Strengths Can Become Weaknesses in a Crisis

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Recent

Fair Does Not Always Mean Equal: Ownership Decisions in Family Business

by Claudia Binz Astrachan, Lindsay Hardie, and Joseph Astrachan / Practice Insight

Families often struggle to decide whether shares should be divided equally among children or reflect leadership, sacrifice, and “sweat equity.” Read more...

Can a Family Stay a Business Family After Selling the Business?

by Clemens Krüger, Christian-Titus Klaiber, and Reinhard Prügl / Research Insight

A study of German family firms shows that regular, meaningful contact between the family office and the family can preserve shared purpose after an exit. Read more...

Family Businesses Must Prepare for the Unthinkable

by Kimberly Eddleston / Commentary

An unexpected death or disability can wreak havoc on a family business's best-laid plans. Read more...

How Families Can Override Emotions to Make Better Judgments

by Paul Edelman / Practice Insight

When decisions become emotionally charged, it becomes harder to think clearly just when clear thinking is needed most. Read more...

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan

Let the Next Generation of Family Firm Leaders Chart Their Own Path

by Klaus Lüber and Nadine Kammerlander

Things to Consider When Transferring Family Business Ownership

by Susan Lanz, Gary Burke, Kajsa Haag, and Omid Omidvar

How to Run a Family Business Successfully