Services - Success Stories
New CEO Stepping Up and Out of Her Father's Shadow
The Situation
A daughter of the founder of a family-owned manufacturing firm sought help in how to fully take the reins of the business as CEO, given that her father still kept an office in the company and remained actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the business.
What We Did
- Conducted an assessment of the leadership needs of the firm by stage of business, and how the CEO's current leadership strengths fit with the profile of what was needed for success
- Evaluated how family dynamics influenced the enactment of roles in the firm:
| Father |
Daughter |
- Father's leadership viewed as entrepreneurial, innovative, creative
- Beloved by employees
- Likely to be strongest at the start-up phases of businesses
- Stylistically more emotive and visionary
- Forceful and charismatic, culture-bearer
|
- Daughter's leadership viewed as more of a professional manager with brilliance in execution
- Respected by employees
- Likely to be strongest at growth and stabilization phases of businesses
- Stylistically more rational and grounded
- Forceful and professional, ensurer of quality and results
|
- Identified that the father thought the daughter was not stepping up into the CEO role, and the daughter thought the father was interfering with her ability to fully demonstrate her leadership
- Facilitated key decisions concerning desired personal and business outcomes and clarity of roles
- Helped the father and daughter to recognize how his need to guide but also control, and her need to be independent but also be validated by her father, influenced their ability to achieve a successful transition of leadership
The Results
- The father and daughter mutually agreed to identify from within the business a respected neutral advisor for the daughter with long-term experience in the business.
- The father took on a Board role and removed himself from day-to-day operations.
- Following the departure of her father from the business, the daughter continued to participate in executive coaching to help her fully assume the role of CEO.
The Outcome
As a result of the engagement, employee morale and performance improved, and the company exceeded its growth targets.
To obtain these results see our Partner Coaching and Organizational Effectiveness Services.
