Thanks for stopping by, I'm Jon Kenfield, the host of the Family Business Challenge series: Making Sense of Family Business.
I share my learnings from almost 3 decades of working as a Solutionist with real Business Families - by exploring 50 of the most common causes of conflict I've dealt with. I also explain how to prevent, avoid, and resolve those conflicts. For every acknowledged problem a solution can be found, or constructed.
My goal is to help you make more sense of Family Business, whether you're in one, or trying to advise one or many.
🌐 https://solutionist.com.au/
🟦 https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-solutionist-group/
🟥 https://www.youtube.com/@thesolutionistgroup/videos
✉️ jonk@solutionist.com.au
📞 0414 816 789
Cause #34
In this episode, I explore why collaboration and teamwork — two concepts that seem obvious in theory — so often collapse inside business families. I explain how informal, relationship‑based ways of working break down as the business grows, and how the clash between the family’s emotional system and the business’s performance system creates chaos, decision paralysis, role confusion, and low‑trust cultures. I also unpack the deeper drivers of conflict: inherited temperament, family‑of‑origin dynamics, unresolved emotional baggage, childhood roles carried into adulthood, and the tension between romantic “families should just work” thinking and the realist need for structure and governance. Finally, I outline practical strategies to rebuild collaboration: turning “we before me” into a lived value, teaching teamwork early, building resilience through responsibility, normalising constructive disagreement, developing emotional intelligence, and involving children in family meetings sooner than most families expect — all with the goal of creating a family that not only loves each other, but loves working together.
26 May 2026
Silence & Secrecy
Cause #33
In this episode, I explore how silence and secrecy quietly undermine family businesses far more often than open conflict ever does. I explain how passive silence allows issues to ferment underground, while active secrecy sends a damaging message of mistrust that can fracture relationships at home and at work. I also unpack the psychological dynamics behind these patterns — from the “pressure cooker” effect in emotionally restrained families to the contrasting resilience of more expressive cultures — and outline the five elements of balanced communication that families must master to prevent assumptions, fear, and hidden resentments from taking over. Finally, I offer practical strategies to build a culture of openness: teaching communication skills early, modelling emotional intelligence, implementing family business best practices, separating intent from impact, and using neutral facilitators when needed. The goal is simple: help families say enough, say it early, say it well, and say it with respect, so problems don’t multiply in the dark.
19 May 2026
Bloodline Rivalry
Cause #32
In this episode, I explore how bloodline rivalry evolves from childhood sibling competition into one of the most powerful and destructive forces in multi‑generational business families. I explain how each branch of a family develops its own identity, narrative, and expectations — and how these stories, repeated over decades, can harden into entitlement, resentment, and competing claims over wealth, status, and control. I also unpack the hidden drivers behind bloodline conflict, including unequal access to information, parental favouritism, strategic manipulation, and the absence of strong governance systems. Using a real‑world case study, I show how unresolved rivalries can paralyse decision‑making and even destroy family wealth. Finally, I outline practical strategies to prevent these dynamics from taking hold: teaching constructive collaboration early, helping the next generation understand fairness vs equality, co‑creating governance structures, holding regular family forums, and building a long‑term family plan that clarifies roles, responsibilities, and purpose. The goal is to help families replace rivalry with unity — and protect both the business and the relationships that sustain it.
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Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 46 / 100
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YouTube
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