AI Magazine Issue 2 2017

Acquisition International - February 2017 31 Family Business Matters (Winner in the ‘Leading Advisor’ category in the USA) has assisted more than 450 family-owned businesses around the world chart their way through family business issues of all shapes and sizes. David Bork explains how the firm achieved this through its attendance at conferences, continuing education programs, family business retreats, speaking engagements and private family business consulting services. amily Business Matters specializes in addressing and resolving the entire range of problems frequently found in family owned enterprise. In their business, they have created ‘The Bork Process’, a consulting and training program that delivers lasting results at every level in a family business. David Bork, one of the leading pioneers in the field of family business counselling, is the founder of Family Business Matters Consulting. During the course of his long career, he has reshaped the course of history for families and the businesses they own. His keen insights and understanding of complex cultural, business and family matters have contributed to his record of accomplishment as the consummate family business professional. He is a proponent of the Family Systems Approach to family business and pioneered the integration of Family Systems Theory with International Best Practices for Family Business. David is the author of Family Business, Risky Business - How to Make It Work, first published in 1986, and recently cited for being the first book to address alcohol and drug abuse in family business, fully 25+ years ahead of it becoming a ‘hot topic’. He is co-author of Working with Family Businesses, a Guide for professionals, the first and only book of its kind in the field. His most recent book, The Little Red Book of Family Business, is a ‘pithy’, no nonsense, pocket-sized compendium of the things that he has found work best in family enterprise. Family Business Matters has developed ‘The Bork Process’ which aims to improve the productivity and profitability of a family-owned business, whilst being custom-tailored for each client. The firm knows from nearly fifty years serving family business that their success is grounded in the Four Pillars of Family Business: Alignment, Boundaries, Communication and Competency. Company: Family Business Matters Consulting Name: David Bork Email: [email protected] Web: www.fambizmatters.com Phone: (+1) 970 948 5077 Family Comes First F 1702AI19 Family Comes First These pillars are imperative for organizational health and resilience in family business and for addressing wealth and money issues in a legacy family. Alignment – This builds seamless coalitions moving toward the same target. We create robust teams that accomplish well defined goals and objectives. Boundaries – Unclear boundaries are the root of many problems in family business where there are three components – the family, ownership and enterprise. Boundaries must be clear and constantly maintained. Clear boundaries serve to guide the manner in which family members interface with the business operations and governance. Communication – Family businesses are notorious for conflict. That conflict, grounded in the family communications patterns, can be the undoing and ultimate demise of the business and breakup of the family. Family Business Matters Consulting has created a unique, cutting edge approach called Restorative Communication that repairs breeches in relationships, enables family members to confront challenges, manage conflicts and create appropriate plans for the long-term success of the enterprise. Effective communication becomes the norm and is grounded in mutual respect and unconditional positive regard. Results from using this methodology are transformative and often profound. Competency – This is the capacity to consistently deliver results that ensure continuity and economic stability for the business. Families in business must understand how family dynamics affect sound business practice and often undermine the business itself. Competency standards must be developed for all employees. Bork is an avid cyclist, fly fisherman, gardener and world traveller. He is committed to health and well- being as he seeks his goal of being in the top 5% of fitness for his age. In 2012, he cycled the entire Camino de Santiago, beginning in St. John pied de port, FR to Finis Terra, ES. Family enterprise can be challenging for many people, but with David’s expertise and commitment, clients would be wise to seek them out for help in the future. “ Effective communication becomes the norm and is grounded in mutual respect and unconditional positive regard.”