Timing a family handover when trading still feels strong
Waiting for a quiet year often means waiting forever. Here is how owners choose a succession window while the order book is still healthy.
Field notes
Practical writing on family business succession, ownership transfers, and the conversations that decide who leads next.
These notes are for owners and successors mid-decision — not abstract leadership theory. Each piece comes from patterns we see in succession engagements.
When siblings share control after the founder steps back
Dual leadership can work in a family firm — if voting deadlocks, role edges, and exit routes are written down before the first argument.
Preparing a successor who grew up on site
Knowing the smell of the workshop is not the same as leading it. Readiness work separates inherited knowledge from authority.
Family meetings that protect the board
A family forum should air hopes and grievances so the company board can stick to trading decisions. Here is a simple separation that prevents crossover chaos.