How to ensure your business thrives long after you are gone

Managers who depend on the leader for their positions and well-being tend to be more loyal. FILE 

By Peter Mutua

“I have been young, and now am old, I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. Psalms 37:25

In a leafy suburb of Nairobi, an elderly smartly dressed man is regularly seen walking about. Upon careful observation, one will notice a young man who is always in tow, never letting the elderly man out of his sight.

Only on speaking to the older man does one realise he is suffering from dementia; his strong authoritative bearing hides his mental incapacity. Yet this man is obviously well taken care of, a far cry from the fate of destitution often associated with his condition.

Those who know him testify that he carefully organised his business affairs when he was younger to ensure that they could run under competent managers.

Another man, Pastor Joseph Musembi, has been preaching for the last 60 years. At the recent celebration of his son’s 40th birthday, Pastor Musembi displayed a spryness and agility that belied his 76 years; dancing, singing and joyfully displaying a full mouth of teeth. One could tell that he was extremely satisfied with his life.

Both his sons are successful corporate managers, married to accomplished women and prudent investors in property and business.

The pastor’s speech to his son’s friends was telling about his source of joy and confidence. He proclaimed that he was completely dependent on God for his daily provision, giving specific recent examples about how he received financial gifts that solved pressing problems.

One could tell that he does not depend on his children for his daily needs.

The last scenario was played out when a sickly Leader of Family Business was fighting for control of his own property. Pictures in the newspapers showed the beleaguered old man leaning out of the upper floor window of his house, clearly a hostage of pitched battles among his children.

In the middle of being ferried in and out of the country and to and from to court to save himself from declared mental incapacity, this man’s life had come to a sad end.

Continuity

How is it that Leaders of Family Business come to such varied ends? What is it that family businesses need to do to ensure their leaders come to dignified ends?

How can Leaders of Family Business organise their affairs to ensure things are well taken care of even when the leader is incapacitated?

Family businesses are founded either on a strong belief in God and His power to sustain the family, on the creation of a strong sense of order within the family business or on the hope that things will naturally work out for good in the absence of the leader.

The first foundation is the surest; the second is the best any human being can do while the third is the weakest, most uncertain of all bases.