What fun we’ve been having in the great Northeast this winter… cold, cold, and more cold mixed with record-falling snow. Good news this week in an email from Clint Hurtle, the Pittsburg Pirates’ manager; pitchers and catchers reported this past week. Forget the groundhog, the skipper has spoken — spring is coming!
Quick family update – Alexandra, who is living in California is on bed rest in the hospital. Her pregnancy is just past her 29th week, so it’s a little early for her to go into labor. Your prayers would be appreciated. She and her husband, Jeremiah, are in good spirits and taking it one day at a time. All the vitals are strong and healthy for their little baby girl who is due to greet the world in early May. My son, Sam, is in his third week taking the Dale Carnegie Course with his fiancée, Jenna, in Syracuse, New York. Thanks to Leslie English, the Dale Carnegie Franchisee in upstate New York for making it all possible. Sam will be the last of our five children to have graduated from the Dale Carnegie Course. This week Sam goes to Arizona to a special teams football combine for kickers, punters, and long snappers. Sam is a long snapper. Taking his shot at the NFL this next weekend is an important milestone in his pursuit of a boyhood dream.
This week, I had the privilege to meet with a large, private, family run company that needs executive coaching for the father and son, with the final outcome being a succession plan. Good for them to realize both will need coaching to help them embrace the change! The intent is for the transition to be seamless to their internal teams and to their external customers. The good news is that there is not an immediate timeframe, so the planning can fit into the second time quadrant — Important but not urgent.
Perhaps you are aware of a similar situation. It can be very challenging, but with coaching, one can avoid the land mines. The father needs to become a masterful servant leader to the son, even though he has been the parent his whole life. The son has to want to be servant led in the business and let go of childlike behaviors. Then they both need to enjoy Sunday dinner with the family and the respect and love of a healthy adult father and son relationship.
For the father, this means coaching, turning over, and letting go. Then being helpful, while being willing to take over again for short periods of time. Then repeating the process.
For the son, this means taking responsibility, being coachable, accepting help, communicating when needing help, then embracing the new role by leading and gaining followers in growing a sustainable profitable business, while always being respectful to the dad.
Oh, then life happens. Reread the first couple paragraphs.
More later. My 30 seconds is up.
Human Relation principle:
“Live in day-tight compartments.”
Dale Carnegie
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