Planning A Family Business Legacy

SHIFT your Family Business was written for anyone who has ever worked in a family business or been part of a business family. Steve Legler grew up in one such family, and married into another, and in this, his first book, he examines the challenges that business families face, and gives readers lots of insights and ideas to help them face and overcome those challenges. Since clear, frequent, and open communication is the key to getting out of difficult situations, he walks readers through the steps of: (1) getting important conversations Started (2) getting Help from others to facilitate the discussions (3) Investing the time and effort necessary to gain the momentum to keep going (4) remaining Flexible with all their ideas and plans (5) Talking everything out to gain as much understanding and consensus as possible. He concludes with some thoughts that demystify governance, and invites business families to take on a "family office" mindset to stay focused and on track. SHIFT your Family Business is all about helping business families create the harmony they need to support the legacy they want.

Family business planning has traditionally centered on two issues - estate planning and succession. These goals are far too limited for today's family firm. Business families want to turn the business into not only a tool for profit, but for self-expression, innovation and legacy. The authors introduce the new concept of the Parallel Planning Process, explaining how to integrate the needs and expectations of the family and business systems in order to create an organic and entrepreneurial unit. Planning and decision making templates are included as well as studies of well-known family businesses.

Twenty-five essays on the dynamics of family-owned businesses with a focus on the values that leave a lasting legacy.

In 2014, as SHIFT your Family Business came out, Steve began hearing about Bowen Family System's Theory, and that it could be useful when working with business families and families of wealth. Curious, he searched for THE book to explain how and why this was true.Unable to find that book, he embarked instead on learning first hand, through Bowen Systems training programs. Five years later, he has written the book he sought in vain. His goal is to help enterprising family leaders and their successors develop a shared vision to sustain their wealth and legacy beyond the next generation.They say the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. In many ways teaching is a better forum for this material, because with a teacher-student relationship, there is give and take, so you can quickly adjust when you notice that you are not coming across the way you hoped. Writing a book is less forgiving, so the challenge is bigger, but I'm up for it.The other reason that now is the time for this book is that while I am by no means a BFST expert, I am at a point where I have learned quite a bit, yet I still remember what it's like to be brand new at this. I remember what it was like to read Murray Bowen's words and shake my head and wonder, and then think I understood, and then realize I still didn't get it. I remember what it was like to say "wow" after hearing faculty members explain things. I'll try to share those important stories when they are useful to understanding the material.I come from a business family and married into another business family, and I've learned about serving business families and had my calling here. I immersed myself in courses and training programs in coaching, mediation and facilitation, and then leapt into the deep end of Bowen Family Systems Theory training in 2014 for four years. I am not afraid to offer my opinion.This is not a book by a BFST expert, and it is not a "how to" book by any stretch of the imagination. If people read it and feel like they learned something useful, I will consider it a job well done.

The authors explore how effective planning and communication helps business families around the world address growth challenges as they strive to become high performing multi-generation family enterprises. This book shows family businesses working together at their best.

The Soul of Family Business by Tom Hubler takes readers on a journey throught the heart and soul of family business. Using case studies from his more than thirty-five-years as a family business consultant, Hubler explores what it takes to run a successful family business, illustrating how love is the foundation and family values are the secret sauce for success.

Generation to Generation will help managers understand the special dynamics & challenges that family businesses face as they move through their life cycles. It explains how to handle succession, & the role of non-family professionals.