When Families Talk Honestly, Enterprises Move Forward

In family enterprises, the some of the most valuable assets aren’t listed on the balance sheet. One of these is trust, the invisible glue that holds both the business and the family together. However, trust doesn’t mean avoiding discomfort or preserving harmony at all costs. It means creating the space and conditions to have the conversations that matter most, even when they are difficult conversations.

Families can often delay or avoid conversations that could bring clarity, unlock momentum or release long-held tensions in fear of what might be unearthed. These are the conversations around succession, fairness, legacy, decision-making, conflict and the role of family members across generations. Rarely are they just about the business. More often, they are deeply tied to identity, history and long-established dynamics. Without proper support, families fall into silence or sidestep issues altogether convincing themselves that avoidance equals stability. It doesn’t.

We know this not just from experience but from the research. A 2022 PwC Family Business Survey revealed that only 30% of family businesses have a documented and communicated succession plan, even though 75% of them expect to pass the business to the next generation. John Davis has long argued that unspoken expectations and unresolved tensions can quietly fracture even the most successful family enterprises. When these issues aren’t brought to light, they don’t fade, they fester.

In my work advising family enterprises, I’ve seen that difficult conversations, when well-facilitated, don’t divide families, they unite them. They bring truth to the surface, offer a new lens on long-standing assumptions and create the momentum to move forward. I often describe it as shaking off the residue of history with the purpose not to forget it but to prevent it from dictating the future.

These conversations are rarely effective without facilitation. A neutral advisor provides more than structure, we create a space where every voice can be heard without fear of retaliation or judgment. We bring a research-based lens to help separate fact from story, emotion from evidence. And we help families stay focused on the goal rather than being drawn into old patterns of grievance or defensiveness.

A study by the Cambridge Institute for Family Enterprise showed that families engaging in structured dialogue are 2.5 times more likely to report successful succession outcomes. A KPMG report found that facilitated conversations reduce interpersonal conflict and strengthen cohesion. Even neuroscience supports this, showing structured conversation reduces the brain’s defensive responses, making it more possible to listen, reflect and compromise.

Family businesses that last across generations aren’t the ones that avoid conflict. They’re the ones that are willing to do the work. They don’t wait for the “right time” - they make time. They understand that while silence feels easier in the short term, it can come at the cost of long-term clarity, unity and momentum.

It takes courage to step into these conversations. But with the right support, they can become a powerful turning point, clearing the runway for the future and ensuring that legacy becomes a rudder rather than an anchor.