Working in a family business with a parent, sibling or other family member can be stressful. Sometimes this stress is fraught with escalating emotions that involve seemingly irreconcilable needs and tensions, making communication difficult. As a result, both family relationships and sound business decision-making can become casualties.

The Family Business Program's consulting component focuses on personal relationships within the family business. Our goal is to help both the family and the business find constructive resolutions to personal relationship challenges. To accomplish this, we utilize the principles of systems theory and the skills of counseling that have been refined over the past 30 years at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, where family comes first.

Consultation Specializations

• Succession Planning
  One of the most common issues facing family businesses is transfer of ownership and control to the next generation. Our consultants help the family and key employees identify and then remove constraints that inhibit effective implementation of succession plans.

• Leadership Development
  In this highly competitive business environment, even executives with proven track records are turning to executive coaches to sharpen their skills. Our coaches offer a confidential sounding board for creative problem solving, strategizing and personal reflection. We also offer leadership assessment, which can reveal a gap in the organization's leadership competency, particularly as it relates to future leaders. With solid assessment, we help to craft a leadership development plan.

• Conflict Resolution Training
  Often, a key aspect of struggle within a family business involves difficulty in effectively resolving conflict. Drawing upon our expertise in family therapy, we aid family and key employees in developing constructive communication and conflict resolution skills so that they may gain the most from their collective perspective.

• Dispute Resolution
  Our team includes certified mediators who can help resolve family business impasses through the application of proven and specific mediation techniques, whether in or out of court.

• Counseling
  A skilled counselor can sometimes be an important adjunct to the consulting package described above. Our counselors understand the special needs of families with businesses so they can offer expert help to distressed families, relationships and/or individuals.

• Executives in Crisis

Sometimes, a key executive is impaired by serious problems in living such as substance abuse, depression or bipolar disease. Such conditions take a toll both on the executive and the business. Our team conducts a thorough assessment, works to motivate the executive to seek help and locates the best and most discreet treatment programs in the country.

To learn more about the Family Business Program's Consultation services, call Douglas C. Breunlin, Program Director, at 847-733-4300, ext. 1032 or email Family-Institute@northwestern.edu