How to have a healthy relationship when working with family
It is often said that people should avoid going into business with a loved one, but according to the Institute For Family Business, two thirds of UK businesses are family owned.
That's a whopping 4.8m companies in total. And we're not just talking about immediate family members or spouses either, because some entrepreneurs even choose to go into business with in-laws.
So what's the trick to maintaining a healthy relationship when working with family? We asked a few of our members.
Anna Cusden, chief executive of makeup brand Look Fabulous Forever, says that everyone needs to know their place in the business.
The company was founded by her mother, Tricia Cusden, in 2013, with Anna and her sister Suzy joining afterwards.
“When working with family, I would say it’s helpful to have clearly defined roles which you all understand to avoid treading on each other’s toes," Anna says.
"One of the benefits of working with family is being able to cut to the chase – there’s a directness that isn’t possible with colleagues you’re not related to."
However, this directness isn’t always positive, and she says that the downside is that difficult discussions can get emotional. "Sometimes you have to disentangle business relationships from personal ones and be clear about which role you are operating in at that moment.”
This is echoed by Suzanna Chaplin, managing director of ESBConnect. She says that old habits die hard if you’re not careful.
“You can revert to being a stroppy teenager around your family; when things go wrong, you don't want to end up stamping your feet and screaming how unfair things are in front of your whole company."
To avoid this, Chaplin says that you need to treat your parent like any other colleague at work.
“The easiest way to compartmentalise this is to use their first name when discussing anything work related, and ‘mum’ or ‘dad’ when talking about a family matter.
"It sounds trivial, but over time it helps you to see them as two separate relationships. And don’t discuss work out of hours. You need time to relax and concentrate on family, not business.”
Some have found that the opposite to be true when it comes to balancing work and family.
For example, Oliver Codrington, managing director of health business London Wellness Centre, thinks that it can be useful to be able to discuss work out of hours.
“Your partner is likely thinking about work while at home anyway, so it can be the perfect excuse to discuss it over the dinner table. Your partner also knows the context of your work stress and understands that you can't ever just switch off."
While working with family is not for everyone, there are benefits in terms of loyalty, which helps to plan longer-term.
Family members also understand each other’s strengths, and therefore know how to make the most of these positive attributes in the business.
Cusden says that the highs are worth it. "Building a business with family – where you are all committed to the same vision – is ultimately very rewarding.”