I always feel an underlying tension within family businesses. The tension is about what should come first. Is it family first or business first? If the business were to place the family first, there could be various implications. Families may decide that the business was created to secure the future of the family itself, in …
The Overloaded Backburner
This morning I attended an event organised by the National Productivity Board. During this event, a researched study on Malta's productivity was presented. Click HERE to download it. Do you know what is the main identified barrier for private businesses to increase productivity and be more innovative? Its the fact that business leaders "are largely …
Change Mindset
Mindset is everything. I firmly believe it. Daily interactions with various businesses and their leaders constantly reaffirms this. As we stand in mid-2023, many business leaders feel at a loss as they are constantly being faced by an accelerated pace of change and many unknowns. This heightened level of uncertainty and unknowns pushes business leaders …
Get outside Help
This is the typical process I go through very frequently with family businesses. They first contact me and we set an initial meeting. I listen to their issues. Normally they describe the symptoms, but they are at a loss as to what is the root cause of the problem or problems they are facing. The …
New EU Funding Schemes
As I have written in the past, the cost of capital is now on the rise, as central banks have to tighten monetary policy i.e. increase interest rates, to dampen demand as part of its fight to tame inflation. The bond markets have already reacted to this. As can seen below the yields on both …
Live to Work or Work to Live? The new employment contract
Any conversation with a business leader invariably leads to the usual talk of “no one wants to work hard anymore.” It is true that we are in a tight labour market and finding good employees is a very hard task, but things will not get better by painting everything black. It is a normal occurrence …
Continue reading Live to Work or Work to Live? The new employment contract
Data & Succession Planning
Many family businesses are akin to a pilot trying to land an airplane with the radar switched off and their eyes closed. Then they are amazed if the business they are supposedly leading, risks crashing out. Sometimes I just tire myself repeating the same thing. You cannot be leading a family business if you do …
Award in Leading a Family Business
As I have written in past Blog articles, I constantly see family business owners and leaders who could perform better if they are equipped with the right and much needed skills and mindsets. I see too many family business owners and leaders engulfed in micromanaging operational issues with no time to think strategically or to …
The Epidemic hitting Family Businesses
Invariably when I meet family businesses I always have to face the negative consequences of an epidemic that haunts and hampers them greatly. The epidemic of control. The epidemic of micro-management. Family business have grown to a certain size but its owners and leaders still try to control and direct the business using the same …
Inflation Monster
A few days ago Malta's Central Bank Governor was quoted as saying that tough decisions may need to be taken to combat the "inflation monster". I might add that tough and innovative decisions will need to be taken, not to make the situation worse for all. Let me try to put things into context. Last …
A Business Blog for SMEs & Family Businesses 