This week we are pleased to continue our series of commentaries on the recently released report, sponsored by the FFI 2086 Society, entitled “The Governance Marathon: Dynamic Durability in Entrepreneurial Families Amid Disruptions.” Thank you to 2086 Society member, Patricia Annino for sharing her reflections on the report’s findings and integrating real-life examples from her own professional experience.

All of the old risks that entrepreneurial families face remain—death of a key stakeholder, divorce, lack of proper planning, government regulation, lack of liquidity, and estate taxes. Yet, new risks are always emerging—increased longevity of the older generation (and in turn, working side by side with younger generations for extended time frames), subtle but diminishing capacity of an older, active, still-working generation, increased government unrest, climate change, and social media reputation risks.

As a global community, we face complex, interconnected challenges, and today’s entrepreneurial families feel and face all these challenges as well. To survive, persist, and thrive, the entrepreneurial family must face these challenges head-on. The recent research report, sponsored by the FFI 2086 Society, The Governance Marathon: Dynamic durability in entrepreneurial families amid disruptions, addresses one of the complex issues that all entrepreneurial families face—steering the family through a pattern of “disruption-in-disruptions.” The Governance Marathon proposes the concept of “Dynamic Durability” as a solution that captures both the need for enduring governance and the need for flexibility during periods of change and adaption in disruptive era.

In this comprehensive report, Jeremy Chang, Kevin Au, Marta Widz, and Marshall Jen have thought through how to broaden the traditional concept of governance durability to one that is dynamic and keeps the governance system open, alive, organized, and adaptable for change. The report introduces a model of Dynamic Durability, incorporating five building blocks (space, multi-role participation, alignment, regeneration, and tackling legitimacy) and identifying three processes (sensemaking, storytelling, and family learning and development) that entrepreneurial families should employ to nurture dynamic durability. The authors also introduce the notion of “meta-governance,” a term borrowed from political science, defining it within the family enterprise context as “the self-awareness of the entrepreneurial family’s governance system” (p. 63), and underscore that meta-governance is the invisible hand in the governance system that helps families reflect on their existing governance perspectives and practices and that may advance innovation.

I understand the importance of both substance and process when advising families and appreciate the consideration given to both in this report. Meaningful results happen when both the substance and process are addressed, and as this report posits, as advisors, we must be aware not only of that connection but also of the concept of meta-governance.

I found the discussion of the process of building Dynamic Durability to be particularly insightful, as throughout the report, the authors suggest institutionalization of practices, some of which are described below, that the family business advisor can incorporate and formalize into the governance structure. The discussion of process in The Governance Marathon is both conceptual and practical. The report underscores that all three processes –sensemaking, storytelling, and family learning and development— work together and properly cautions the advisor not to do the work for the family, but rather to advise and coach.

Sensemaking, Storytelling, Family Learning & Development: Three processes for nurturing Dynamic Durability

The G-SMART Model of Dynamic Durability (p. 17)

Sensemaking

When addressing sensemaking (where information that is gathered by individuals is shared and reinterpreted to drive collective action), the authors advocate that advisors play the role of “Mediators of Sensemaking,” inducing doubts and pauses in the sensemaking process. The Governance Marathon introduces tools that advisors can consider, such as asking challenging “what if” and “what if not” questions, building “fire-drill” practices as scenario analyses, and preparing families for taboo dialogues using mini cases.

Storytelling

Storytelling invokes legacy in a subjective way and can allow for the expression of ideas and discussions that provide power to underrepresented voices. In my experience, storytelling is also a way to identify patterns in the family tapestry. When past stories are brought forward, they can illuminate that the issues the family is facing now may not be new ones—just a sequel to a movie that started two generations ago, only with new actors and new twists.

Family Learning and Development

The Governance Marathon underscores that family learning and development and governance are inseparable and posits that advisors can play the role of “Learning System Enhancers” (p. 57). It delves into two emerging practices: family learning curriculum and the role of the chief learning officer. Over the years, I have seen the effectiveness of incorporating and formalizing education into the governance system. As an example, a Founding Fellow of FFI, Nan-b de Gaspé Beaubien, incorporated meaningful lifelong learning into the business family when she introduced and institutionalized the concept of grandparents’ learning weeks—a week or two each summer in which the senior generation invited only grandchildren (none of the children) to learn together. This event educated the young generation and bound them together in a different way than could have happened if the middle generation had been present. The grandchildren expected this to occur each year and looked forward to it, and the elder generation put tremendous effort into building the curriculum for the week. As advisors, we should be cognizant of the power of lifelong learning and the positive impact that institutionalizing it can have for the entrepreneurial family.

References

Cheng, J., Au, K., Widz, M., & Jen, M. (2021). The Governance Marathon: Dynamic durability in entrepreneurial families amid disruptions. Research report commissioned by 2086 Society and the Family Firm Institute. Available at: https://digital.ffi.org/pdf/ffi_the_governance_marathon_report.pdf

About the Contributor

Patricia M. Annino, FFI Fellow, is an attorney with Rimôn, P.C. in Boston. Patricia is on the 2022 FFI Conference Program Committee, a former member of the FFI board of directors, a founding member of the FFI 2086 Society, and a frequent contributor to FFI Practitioner. She has been voted by her peers as one of the Best Lawyers in America, Estate Planner of the Year and EuroMoney’s “Best in Wealth Management — USA.” Her most recent book is Power, Strength & Perseverance: What women know about other women, but search for in themselves. She can be reached at [email protected].