Successful Family Meetings

1
Successful Family Meetings

• Family, Farming and Communication Part 2
• Margaret A. Viebrock
• WSU Extension

2
How Many Hats Do You Wear?

• Family Hat
• Business Hat
• Manager Hat
• Good Guy Hat

3
Why Have a Meeting?

• Share your vision and plan
• Talk about your business
• Invite your children to help plan
• Set a protocol for honest communication
• Issue what if someone doesnt want to come to
  your meeting?

4
What Should You Do First?

• Distribute a written agenda
• Extend the invitation
• Pick a neutral site
• Do you invite the spouses?
• Pay for travel and child care
• Issue You know your children do not get along
  very well what do you need to consider?

5
Set the Ground Rules

• Courtesy disagreeing is ok
• Stick to the agenda
• Say what you mean and
• mean what you say
• Let each person talk
• Issue What if someone refuses to say what
  they feel?

6
What If ?

• There are disagreements?
• Someone walks out?
• The division appears unfair to someone?
• Someone feels left out?
• The meeting falls apart?
• Issue How will you put out the fires?

7
What About Decisions?

• Use the seek opinion model
• Listen
• State your short long range goals
• Listen
• Ponder responses from everyone
• Seek clarification
• Should you ask for a vote?

8
The Wrap Up

• Establish some deadlines
• Give out some assignments
• Record the minutes
• Distribute the minutes
• Plan a follow-up
• Include some fun!

9
What is Your Desired Outcome?