What are Affinity Groups:
Confidential
groups of 6-10 family business members, in similar corporate
roles, meeting monthly to discuss matters of business, family
and personal interest. The
Family Business Council's affinity groups are peer groups
that meet regularly, allowing members to share experiences
and learn from each other Dr. Bob Canady, serves as the
facilitator for CEO groups and Next Generation, while Dr.
JoAnne Norton facilitates our Women Owners group. Both
facilitators are experienced in family business matters.
Affinity members have an opportunity to:
• Share
their experiences and learn from one another
• Seek advice and help with
issues they are facing
• Provide advice and guidance
to their fellow members
Affinity Groups provide:
• A
confidential, trusting environment conducive to the exchange
of ideas, information and education
• A place to seek advice and
solutions to business and personal matters
• A community of peers who
fully understand the integration of
• business, family and personal
issues for those involved in family business
• A vehicle for family business
education
• A place where personal growth and a better
understanding of self take place.
Principles of a Successful Affinity Group:
• Confidentiality : Our
affinity groups are successful because each group has a shared
purpose and expectations. Each member is committed
to respecting the confidentiality of all members.
• Commitment: Group members
are committed to attend meetings as regularly as feasible. Members
rely on one another for follow up, feedback and continuity.
• Leadership: Our
forum facilitators allow each group to explore areas of
common interest, while guiding members back to selected
topics when meetings drift into areas not in keeping with
the group's shared agenda.
• Currently, all forums meet once a month, 10
or 11 times a year, for approximately two hours, over lunch. Members
pay a set annual fee.
Current affinity group descriptions:
Owners/CEO's: This group consists
of business owners contemplating issues such as retirement
and succession planning. Members are usually preparing
to leave the day to day operation of their businesses to
the next generation. Often, a major concern is communicating
their plans and desires to their successors while contemplating
financial and lifestyle changes that will take place in retirement. Members
address issues surrounding preparing the next generation
for leadership roles and protecting their interests in the
company business.
Next Generation: This group is preparing
to assume leadership roles in their family businesses. They
are committed to preparing themselves to take over from the
senior generation. They face obstacles such as gaining
the respect of company employees loyal to the senior generation,
negotiating with siblings or cousins on ownership issues,
and preparing themselves to be competent leaders. In
addition, many are struggling with convincing the senior
generation that they are capable of leading.
Women's Forum: This forum consists
of women in key management roles in their family businesses. Many
handle demanding positions within their companies, while
meeting the changing needs of their families. Forum
members share issues confronted by the growing number of
women holding key positions in industries more traditionally
dominated by men.
They also struggle to balance their more traditional roles
within the family with their leadership responsibilities
in their businesses.
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