While analyzing the family business X, I realized how important the way we frame family businesses is. In this case, the business is often described as “a close-knit team” or “a family-first company.” At first, these phrases sound positive, but I started to see the paradox, they reflect strength and loyalty, yet they also limit how the business sees itself. The “family-first” mindset sometimes gets in the way of professionalising or letting go of control. McAdam et al. (2020) explain that family businesses often navigate multiple logics, business, family, and community, and how we frame them shapes what we prioritise. I think family business X could benefit from reframing itself not just as a legacy to protect, but as an organisation preparing to grow with new ideas and new leaders. Changing the narrative could unlock new strategies without losing what makes it unique.
Reference:
McAdam, M., Clinton, E. and Dibrell, C. (2020) ‘Navigation of the Paradoxical Landscape of the Family Business’, Family Business Review, 33(1), pp. 60–90.