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The Other Side of Potential
Over time, the conversations we choose to have begin to reflect what matters most.
If you’ve been part of this podcast, you’ve heard me speak about human development, systems thinking, and the ways we make meaning of our lives and work. That work continues—and remains at the core of my coaching and professional practice.
What has changed is the space where I am choosing to have a different kind of conversation.
After the death of my son, Michael, I felt called to create a more personal place—one that speaks directly to the experience of loss, and to the questions that emerge when life no longer looks the way it once did.
That space is now Beyond the Loss.
This podcast is for parents who have lost a child, and for those who support them. It is not about fixing grief or finding closure, but about understanding how we continue to live, to make meaning, and to become—after loss.
If you are looking for my current podcast,
you will now find me there.
I invite you to join me on Beyond the Loss.
You are welcome.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wqQ8MwCty4eJAiZ8VroUV?si=0b4c5d3bab6a4b64
The Other Side of Potential
Episode 226: Trapped in The Family Business with Dr. Michael Klein
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Our guest today, Dr. Michael Klein, holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and has been working as a workplace and professional consultant and advisor for over 20 years. He is also the author of Trapped in the Family Business, Second Edition: A Practical Guide to Uncovering and Managing This Hidden Dilemma, which he wrote out of a sense of need when he saw how many of his clients felt isolated and alone in their struggles.
Our conversation with Dr. Klein covers everything, from the sense of disconnection people are experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its effect on employees, to how family-run businesses should approach issues around succession and retirement. He shares some of the advice he gives to clients who feel trapped by their family businesses, why they might be feeling this way, and his approach to helping family businesses navigate tricky issues. We also discuss the subject of confidentiality in family businesses, how it can prevent families from reaching out for support, and why this incentivized him to create the organization, Family Business Anonymous.
Working alongside family members can bring many joys with it, one of them being that you get to know an entirely different side of them, which can strengthen your relationships. But it also creates opportunities for conflict, often leading to feelings of frustration and resentment, and harming your family dynamics in the process. If you’re interested in learning more about family businesses or are a member of one yourself be sure to tune in to this important conversation!
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
- Why the niche subject of family businesses appealed to Dr. Michael Klein, as a psychologist.
- The COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected emotional well-being and connectedness.
- The concept of work-life integration and why work-life balance seems out of reach for most.
- Why Dr. Klein decided to write Trapped In The Family Business.
- The unconscious messaging family members might send one another regarding their role and responsibility in the family business.
- The tension of being relied upon as a mother, wife, and unofficial part of the family business, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Examples of resources that families can use to help them become better integrated.
- Dr. Klein’s fondness for psychometrics and how it can help family members gauge whether they are ready for increased responsibility.
- Why it can be so difficult for owners to step away from their businesses.
Transcript: Here
Additional Resources:
Website: https://drmichaelklein.com/
Book: https://drmichaelklein.com/my-book
Email: mk@drmichaelklein.com
Telephone: 413-320-4664
Links Mentioned:
Mitzi Perdue: https://mitziperdue.com/
Sharon Spano:
Website: sharonspano.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD
Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/
Book: thetimemoneybook.com
Contact: sharon@sharonspano.com
The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/