Reviewed by Andrew Clancy, Senior Editor
Soundview Executive Book Summaries

Rivalry. Intrigue. Jealousy. Malice. These words might easily highlight the plot descriptions of works as lofty as those of William Shakespeare or the daily line-up of afternoon soap operas. Unfortunately, for a portion of the corporate world, the devilish divisions and bitter in-fighting are business as usual. These are the issues that can make an ordinary business fraught with problems. But this is no ordinary business. This is family. Fortunately, authors Grant Gordon and Nigel Nicholson are riding to the rescue with their up-coming, in-depth look at familial struggles in the workplace, Family Wars: Classic Conflicts in Family Business and How to Deal With Them.

The passing of a company from parent to child has remained an essential backbone of the global economy. Craftsmen have ensured that their unique trades and skills were perpetuated beyond their own lifespan by bringing the next generation in early. Many major corporations have their roots in a single family that shepherded the original business through good times and bad. Family-run businesses will always be essential to the continued development of new ideas and services. The authors' true concern is with the darker side of multi-generational businesses. There are some natural downsides that can result from several decades of a business under the same last name, if, and only if, the ownership is not careful. Gordon and Nicholson expertly name and number the problems unique to family-run business, but more than just labeling, they offer insight and possible solutions.

As much as it fits the business book moniker, Family Wars deserves to sit on a shelf in the psychology section of any bookseller. Family business is not "just business" the authors indicate time and again. The cold, calculating world of decisions driven by deliverables and the bottom line does not equate exactly with the bloodline business. Emotion creeps its way into decisions, in many cases without the ownership even realizing. For example, the brashness of a young executive causes a company to lose a long-time customer (and the customer's significant revenue stream). Ordinarily, a business owner could evaluate the situation, reprimand or dismiss the executive and steer the company back to calm waters. Does the owner view the situation differently if the executive is his son or daughter? Gordon and Nicholson would argue yes.

The authors put tremendous detail into constructing Family Wars, and its chapters serve as a case-by-case cautionary tale for executives who run, are partners in or may inherit a family business. Many readers will find the countless examples provided by Gordon and Nicholson resonate deeply. The issues of family, be they jealousy and competition between two brothers or chaos and disorder in the wake of a parent's death, are universal experiences. It's preventing those issues from clouding one's ability to execute smart organizational and strategic moves that remains the issue. What may surprise readers is the absolute star-power of the examples provided by the authors to illustrate their points. Brevity will prevent the editor from listing a roll-call but suffice to say there are few businesses mentioned in Family Wars that the reader doesn't encounter on a weekly basis. The success that these companies experienced despite internecine practices will only lead one to wonder what greater heights these companies could have reached.

The reward for picking up Family Wars comes with the book's concluding chapter. Gordon and Nicholson pull no punches during their evaluation and stating of the lessons patriarchs and matriarchs should remember. Again, emotion playing the role it does in family business means that much of what the authors reveal may not be comfortable to read. Yes, the word "nepotism" does rear its head, but so does a five-point strategy for keeping it from ruining one's company. Multi-generational battles, division of an estate, the brother-vs.-brother conflict and even the problems of an aging executive's unwillingness to let go are all given a careful and concise treatment. It becomes apparent that running a family business requires an additional and unique set of skills that are not available in lecture halls or advanced degree programs. Perhaps this is why the authors included a quote from American writer and clergyman Charles Swindoll that says, "A family is a place where principles are hammered and honed on the anvil of everyday living." Family Wars is the best attempt yet to create a guidebook to prevent the hammer from falling too heavily on family business.

Family Wars: Classic Conflicts in Family Business and How to Deal With Them by Grant Gordon and Nigel Nicholson is slated for release in May 2008 from Kogan Page. It is under consideration by Soundview Executive Book Summaries. If you'd like to subscribe to Soundview Executive Book Summaries, please click here.