Family Business Blog
Sep 12, 2013
Improving Communication and Limiting Conflict - the Whitbread Story
At the recent FBA National Conference Angela, John-Paul and Claire Whitbread told the powerful story of how they dealt with the challenges that arose on the sudden death of their father who founded the family business. The presentation expanded on their comments at the Victorian State Conference in May 2011, shortly after they took control.
The session looked at a comprehensive process developed by Peter Burrow of Neuropower and described how the family built a strong culture following the death of the patriarch. Even though the Gen 2 siblings grew up together and had established relationships, the comment was made that their business relationship was with their father, not each other. Peter took them through a very lengthy process to enable them to manage conflict, identify values for the family and the business and establish effective communication and management systems that they could cascade through the business. In summary the process has helped take the organisation from having one strong leader to three strong next generation leaders.
The session looked at a comprehensive process developed by Peter Burrow of Neuropower and described how the family built a strong culture following the death of the patriarch. Even though the Gen 2 siblings grew up together and had established relationships, the comment was made that their business relationship was with their father, not each other. Peter took them through a very lengthy process to enable them to manage conflict, identify values for the family and the business and establish effective communication and management systems that they could cascade through the business. In summary the process has helped take the organisation from having one strong leader to three strong next generation leaders.
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