Organization Development Consulting Firm

A member of a family that includes more than 130 individuals in five branches located in America, Jamaica, Nigeria, Canada, England and Wales is convinced that sustaining the legacy of her forefathers requires action; and action now! The family’s reunion that occurs every three years was held in July 2006 in their home country. She engaged Shared Interests to join them at the reunion to “get us started”.

Discoveries

• There is a common view of the family legacy across three generations as expressed in the family history publication and interviews.
• Though there is a clear set of values that (could) drive areas of focus for the family to impact the quality of life in their home country there is no agreement in the family as to how.
• The family does not have a common language or framework to use to reach alignment on next steps.

Strategy

We started first with the rational and then engaged the emotional. It was evident that the varying cultures in which the family members had grown up would send us down an equal number of paths; none of which would lead us closer to clarification. So we focused on education over time and honoring the interests and concerns of those who have a sense of their family unit’s direction.

• Engage Family leaders from all branches (research and interviews)
• This Family’s Vision Through this Family’s Eyes (a morning session)
• From Family Reunion to Family Foundation: Options for Consideration (a think piece)
• Understanding the Scope of Resources in the Family (an organizing tool)
• The Do’s and Don’ts of Launching a Family Foundation (adapted ABC’s from published article)

Result

• Expanded base of knowledge in family of options.
• Increased clarity of individual family member interests and resources.
• Area of focus in the home country narrowed both geographically and in interests.