|
The Human Side of Enterprise is an organizational development firm, providing consultation and education for 24 years. HSE/AZ provides a range of services that focus on individual, family and organizational success. We create opportunities for our clients to learn and grow in a range of contexts with a focus on:
 Family Business
- Governance
- Wealth and Families
- Programs for Women
- Career and Life Planning
- Management and Organizational Development
We offer individual and organizational consultation, programs for families, workshops, seminars, keynote addresses and adventures in an inspirational, practical and holistic manner. We offer opportunities to explore topics of interest with resources who share similar experiences and/or experts in the field.
Family Business: Assuring Harmony in the Family and Prosperity in the Business
Education
We provide an understanding of the normal sequence of life in family businesses and practices which foster high level effectiveness in these complex human systems. By understanding the normal "perils and pleasures, " families in business have the opportunity to put their experience in a context which helps them to gain perspective on their situation. By learning about "best practices" in family businesses, these participants gain an idea of how they can work most effectively together and assure prosperity in the business and harmony in the family.
Educational services are offered as seminars and workshops that are designed to meet the needs of individuals, families, associations and/or programs offered by the Human Side of Enterprise or its affiliates. Education also occurs in the form of consultation with one or more individuals. The programs are offered in Scottsdale, AZ, Aspen, CO and other interesting locations.
The content of educational programs includes the following topics and more:
- The Perils and Pleasures of Family Business
- Succession in the Family Business
- Women in Family Business
- Leadership and Development
- Family Teamwork and Communication
Consultation Process
Initial Contact
The process of our work with families begins with an introductory workshop for the family so that the entire family is involved in the process of deciding to work with a consultant. This is important to the process of consultation since all stakeholders need to feel that a consultant is neutral and gives genuine consideration to the perspectives of all members.
Assessment
After a family has decided to proceed with consultation, we conduct an assessment of the family and its relationship to the business. This process includes an individual interview with each family member, often with selected key non-family managers and at times advisors. We become familiar with the business and/or other family assets and when indicated, do an organizational assessment.
We may also use the Aspen Family Business Inventory or Wealth Inventory as part of the assessment to gain further insight into the views that are shared and those that differ among members of the family. In the assessment we are seeking to understand the family challenges, strengths, goals and dreams. We observe the family dynamics and gain insight into the individuals who make up the family.
Family Retreats
The results of the assessment are presented at a retreat for the family that is also designed to develop a plan of action for the family. Education, family team-building, conflict resolution and enhanced communication are typically components of the retreat. The next steps in consultation are determined at this time.
Additional retreats are often conducted as an opportunity for families to learn, plan, resolve issues and grow together. Leslie Dashew facilitates these retreats with great care, assuring that family members feel safe, feel heard and learn from each other as well as from her.
On-going Consultation
Other areas of consultation include:
- Developing effective governance for the family, businesses, family offices and foundation
- Helping to plan and prepare for succession
- Building teamwork in sibling teams, management teams, intergenerational teams, cousins groups, etc.
- Individual consultation with members of the family and management.
 Top
To govern is to rule, control or manage. It can also mean to exercise a directing or restraining influence, to determine or to guide. Govern can refer to guidance which determines how something is done (as in the principles governing a case) or to have a predominating or decisive influence.
Governance then, is a system of control and/or authority, the act of governing. This system helps groups of people determine how they will make decisions and who has authority to make and to implement decisions. Families often have unspoken governance, i.e. everyone knows when to go to mom for a decision and when to go to dad! However, as groups of humans share assets or businesses and have a more complex web of decisions to make, a more formal method of governance needs to be established to assure clarity, fairness and a healthy process of operating ensue.
Thus in our work with family businesses and families of wealth, we help to establish governance that is appropriate to each situation and adds value to the family while preventing a waste of resources. For more detail see the essay on Family Business Governance.
Boards of Directors
As abuse of governance has occurred in recent years, more attention has been paid to corporate governance, such as the recent passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This act mandated more independence in those who are governing from those who are managing business and more management accountability to shareholders (and the public) through the board of directors and through certification of financial reports.
This has placed a great deal of attention on the effectiveness of boards of directors, in public and private companies. We have always offered services to assess and develop boards of directors as part of our governance/organizational development services. We work with boards of directors to enhance effectiveness. Our assessment includes:
- Clarity of Purpose of the Board
- Clarity of Roles and Boundaries
- Effectiveness of Structure
- Effectiveness of Process
- Board Composition
Top
Many families who have built or inherited wealth worry that their wealth will hurt their families, destroy their children's motivation to work, or contribute to dysfunction in the lives of their grandchildren. There is good reason to fear this: there are many public and private stories of spoiled children, wasted lives, and serious alcohol and drug abuse associated with young people who have always had what ever they wanted-at least materially. In fact, a new disease, "affluenza," has been identified, as a result of the rapid growth of wealth that accompanied the economic boom of the '80s.
In my work with families of wealth and family-owned businesses, I have heard the concerns and fears of parents and grandparents, I have witnessed the sad waste of lives to alcohol and drug addiction and I have worked with young people who are trying to find meaning and self-esteem when they have never been called upon to "flex their own muscles." During the course of my work with families over the last 30 years, I have observed how healthy families help to perpetuate strong emotional bonds, encourage self-worth and cultivate the values that lead to constructive lives. I have worked with families to overcome the greed, entitlement and jealousy which can ruin families, and I have helped to identify and cultivate family practices that encourage productive lives and constructive use of family assets.
So our work with families of wealth focuses on gaining clarity about goals, dreams and direction, helping individuals and families develop plans, structure and access to a range of resources to accomplish the goals and dreams. We help families look at how to perpetuate those value and legacies that have contributed to strength, while overcoming the issues and residue which can be found in the wake of accumulating or mismanaging wealth. The process of assessment and planning described in services for family businesses is similar to those services offered to families of wealth. Also, please see Health, Wealth and Families on our publication page.
Top
We began conducting programs for women as we noted that women in family businesses have some unique issues to address and that it was often most effective to create an environment with other women who shared these issues. Thus, the annual Women in Family Business program was born. We then had inquiries from groups on issues related to women and wealth and began addressing those issues as well.
In addition to the Women in Family Business program, we offer custom programs for other families and groups such as the program offered in Bermuda (Women: Health, Wealth and Happiness). We would be happy to design special programs for your organization.
Leslie has written a series of poems relating to women (e.g. The Wise Woman) which can be seen in the writing section.
Top
In general practice, our educational systems do a poor job of helping people determine what they want to do with their lives and their careers in our school systems. Thus, young people often drift into jobs or careers or family businesses without having carefully looked at their abilities, interests and personality preferences. Further, since we are living longer, we are finding that our interests and opportunities shift throughout our lives and most 60 year olds are not ready to let go of the meaningful activities that have taken up most of their time and energy and given them a sense of purpose and identity!
Thus, we assist our clients in the exploration of personal and professional goals and access a range of tools and resources to help develop a meaningful path for the next stage of life.
We are also developing new programs for men and women who are facing the "troissieme:" that is the 3rd third of their lives and want to thoughtfully explore how to use their time, energy and other resources to enjoy their lives and make a difference.
Top
| Management and Organizational Development |
For over 30 years, I have specialized in organizational development to a range of companies from small entrepreneurial organizations to huge multi-nationals. During those years I have served as a trusted advisor to leaders who have been committed to enhancing the effectiveness of their organizations as well as growing its volume.
Through consultation, we help to clarify the organization's mission, identify the vision for the future, explore the strategic variables which will impact the achievement of that future, and explore how to organize, develop and mobilize the human resources of the organization to get there! We also assess the organization to determine roadblocks or bottlenecks to success and help leaders and employees to work effectively together to overcome these obstacles. The work inevitably includes a range of management and leadership development activities to assure the growth of human capital. We also provide training to employees across the board in communication skills, teamwork and change management.
|
