Opinion: Brothers, business partners rift calls for retreat
Ellen Rohr
Posted online
Every now and then I open up the mail or email bag and share some advice. Maybe you can relate.
Dear Ellen, I work with my brother in a family business. We are 50/50 owners. The problem is that I work a lot harder than he does, and we both take the same salary. What should I do?
Dear Bro, Take a retreat – and take your brother with you. You two should take a weekend or at least a day, and leave the cellphones behind. Spend the time putting a business plan together. Ask and answer the big questions. Why are we doing this? What are our goals? How much money do we need and want? Who will do what? How much time is required by each of us? Sometimes we stew over stuff we have never discussed.
Once upon a time, my husband and I decided to address some of the issues in our family business. At the time, I was all for growing the company – more trucks, expanded market and a lot more people. My husband told me that he was ready to scale back and work all by himself. Gulp. We were not on the same page. We decided to sell the company and pursue separate ventures. It was a very good move for us and an option for you. Before you storm off, schedule the retreat. See if you two can get on the same page.
Dear Ellen, The dispatcher at our company does a great job. But he texts his friends all day long. When I walk past his desk, I see Facebook up on his screen, too. We have a rule about not texting. I am tired of nagging about it. Any suggestions?
Dear Old Man, I am suspecting you are older than the dispatcher. You may be old enough, like me, to remember when this issue was limited to using the company phone line (rotary phone?) to call the outside world. Things have changed. The 20-somethings in my life can text thousands of characters per minute – with their eyes on you and their phones under the table, in pockets or seemingly out of reach. Their phones may actually be wired to their frontal lobes. So, I am over trying to police texting. Sure, you can block websites, like Facebook and other distracting places. I wouldn’t bother.
Instead, make clear what you expect from your dispatcher. What are the priorities? How will he be measured? Once you have determined his position description, add some projects to his day. Keep the kid busy. If he has time to text, he has time to help you get a few things knocked off your top projects list. Ask him what he thinks would make things run smoother, solve a specific problem, get the phone ringing, etc. Then, let him take a swing. Spend time working side by side to see what he does, how he does it and what else you can pile on his plate. Define the project, meet to get updates and add a little bonus if he gets it done on time and on budget. And, if he manages to eek out a text now and then, well, so be it.
Ellen Rohr is an author and business consultant who helps entrepreneurs start, fix and grow their businesses. She conducts a monthly webinar, and her books include “Where Did the Money Go?” and “The Bare Bones Weekend Biz Plan.” She can be reached at ellen@barebonesbiz.com.
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