My second Faith & Family Business series considers the book of Proverbs. Though written thousands of years ago, these proverbs still have a timeliness and power today. My aim is to consider these maxims in the context of our current experience of living and working with family members. Thanks for your feedback and sharing this post with others. (Click on the red words in the post below to follow the links.)
As one who occasionally witnesses tension between the older and younger generations in a family business, I was pleased to see in Proverbs several reminders of the benefits of multi-generational participation. Here is one example:
The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. (Prov. 20:29)
The young generation brings raw power — the ability work the hours, carry the load, and keep it all going. The ‘gray hair’ brings wisdom gleaned from a lifetime of experiences, as well as the judgment to know how to approach a situation. A more modern take on this idea is “fluid intelligence” versus “crystallized intelligence.” The point is that both young and old have a unique offering for the family business.
When strength and wisdom are skillfully combined in a family business, the results can range from impressive to phenomenal. Decision-making seems more effective, and strategies are better executed. People know how and where to contribute. Perhaps it’s part of the reason that family businesses outperform non-family businesses!
Have you ever witnessed or experienced this blend of strength and wisdom, youth and maturity, in a family business? How do you cultivate this combination in your enterprise?