Faith & Family Business
Is the next generation a threat? (1 Samuel 18:7-9)
Welcome to my third Faith and Family Business series, focusing on the Biblical King David. David’s story explores a full range of emotions and experiences in life, offering insights about ourselves and others in work and family. My hope is that your own faith, family, and understanding of your family business will be enriched by considering David's story.
After David kills Goliath and is brought into King Saul’s service, Saul and David are headed home. Along the way, people celebrate the victory:
And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on. (1 Sam. 18:7-9)
In Saul’s view, people weren’t just celebrating, they were acknowledging David as being the greater of the two. Saul becomes jealous and questions David’s ambitions. He is worried that the younger, in just one battle, has surpassed the elder. He is worried about his kingship.
A primary concern in generational business transitions is whether the younger generation will meet the performance expectations of the senior generation. Occasionally, however, the older generation feels threatened by the younger generation, who might be better supervisors, communicators, or have more business savvy. They might have more vision, or possess stronger negotiation skills. The younger generation’s strengths, in some ways, point to the senior generation’s weaknesses. The next generation’s success is perceived as the current generation’s failure. And if a senior member in the family business is insecure, lacks self-esteem, or is avoiding the reality of their mortality, they might react in ways more similar to Saul.
Question to the senior generation: How do you respond to skills in the younger generation that may surpass your own abilities?
Question to the younger generation: How might you help the older generation recognize and celebrate their family business accomplishments?