Every discipline has its own lexicon that often seeks to explain complex matters by using familiar analogies.  I find the use of gardening, or is it agricultural, terms in the family business (FB) literature most instructive and useful, starting with the transcription of a genogram onto a family tree. I have taken to not only using the more popular references but have added some of my own, my lack of a green thumb notwithstanding.

Plant a seed:  Founders put something down and watch as it grows beyond their initial expectations.  It is most rewarding if that one tree sinks deep; develops strong roots and generates cuttings that propagate the garden. This requires the balanced and correct amount of water, fertilizer and light  and proper drainage, or else rot will set in. Rot in FBs causes all to fall down.

Reap what you sow: These words spring to my mind when I witness the entitlement behaviour of some next generation members and listen to parents lament their children’s lack of motivation or their unreasonable expectations of the business and, indeed, life. These attitudes are fostered during childhood, not in adulthood.

Cross pollination: With the passage of time, this is inevitable as new people enter the family via marriage and produce offspring with a hybrid of characteristics. As in nature, there is no way to control what the wind blows in or what bees carry.

Prune the tree:  It is often very beneficial to trim and/or remove some branches to reduce the possibility of the tree breaking. This must be done properly so that the tree heals properly. In FBs it is sometimes advisable that we allow some shareholders to cut away and the proper way is via well thought out Buy-Sell agreements long before the branches get too heavy.

The ideal in FBs is to be hardy perennials that sink deep roots and continue to sprout healthy branches.  Sure, this may require some herbicide ever so often and, as in gardening, this must be done in measured proportions and at the right time to ensure safety. I am sure you gardeners out there can add to my list.

For those of us for which greenery means artificial trees and plants, there are lots of other analogies that resonate with FB experiences –think biblical references like Cain and Abel or Shakespearean dramas like King Lear and Hamlet. What analogies do you use to illustrate the wonderful complexities, strengths and challenges of your family business?

Drop me a note and help expand my vocabulary.