I’ve got a comment on my Delegate in a small business from Ben saying: “I am skeptical about delegating to family. From my experiences that usually doesn’t turn out well. I expressed my thoughts on hiring family in a post a while back. I was called Ten Commandments to Surefire Home Business Success. Check out the 9th Commandment and let me know what you think.”
Here is Ben’s 9th Commandment: “Oftentimes friends and family, who are all well-intentioned, will hinder your business from being successful. It is OK to allow your friends and family to benefit from your labor. However, “free stuff all around” every time they enter your premises is not a good way to get this done. Believe me, all those freebies add up pretty quickly. So keep an eye on the “benefits by association”. Friends and/or family are usually your first employees also. This is another area where they can hurt your business more than they help it. You will find that some people will come to work late, leave early, and do absolutely nothing in between. They have no fear of being fired because of their personal relationship with you. You have to make sure that your acquaintances know that business is business and that you will protect the well being of your business like any good owner should. Even if it means releasing them from their duties with your company. ”
I should know best about working with your family in a business as my company co-owners are my girlfriend and her sister. And I can say that yes, working with your family is probably more complicated than hiring outsiders. But then again, if you don’t build a business that does something for your family, it might be pointless.
So, let’s say it like this: You have to be very careful before deciding to work with your family. Unlike a simple employee, you can’t fire them and sometimes you can’t impose your way of doing things.
Actually, it depends! On your family, your business and yourself!
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