Edition 502 – Chores

I’ve wondered for a while, now, whether there is a co-relation between families who required their younger children to perform chores throughout their childhood, to those children becoming adult children and being prepared to take on roles and tasks inside of a family business, that they might not like to do, but which they understand helps to push the business forward.

Similarly, I’ve wondered if, in families where young children don’t have chores through their formative years, whether they self select what they will do in their roles inside a family business, to the point of refusing point blank to do things “because they don’t like to”..

I’ve spent the best part of almost 40 years, working inside of, and with, family businesses to have enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that performing chores as a youngster, means an adult child is more likely invested in performing their role inside of a family business, for the common good, than for their own self betterment.

I remember one family business meeting, years ago, where a second generation member of the business engaged in a heated discussion with me, about a role that he didn’t want to perform in the business, simply becuase he didn’t want to go out and engage with people. Whilst not the prominent role this individual was playing in the business, I saw it was crucial to the regeneration of the client base of the business, as the first generation owners aged, and as such, the client base aged with them.

Similarly, I’ve been involved in other family businesses where the second generation, has simply got on with the task, and taken on the roles they’ve been allocated, all with the intention of making the family business work, irrespective of how good, bad or indifferent the financial performance was at that point in time, nor what their own personal agenda was.

In the former situation, whilst I’m not certain, I never heard much conversation about the chores that junior performed in their younger years. In the latter situation, I’m absolutely certain about the fact that each member of the second generation was expected to pitch in, and help out around home, when they were youngsters.

Our own sons were raised with the understanding that, to play a part in our household, they had chores. Feeding the dogs. Cleaning up after them. Setting the table. Emptying the dishwasher. Tidying their rooms. Vacuuming the house. Helping with the lawns (always welcome when you live on acreage, by the way). It was how I was raised, from a very young age, and we did the same with our two sons, also from a young age.

For me, when children have chores to perform around the house, they gain an understanding that things don’t just happen, and that for the family to succeed and survive, they must also contribute. As they get a little older, and there’s pocket money involved, it teaches them an appreciation for money, and the fact that if they work, they’ll be rewarded. Similarly, if they don’t, they won’t.

There’s probably some in depth academic research out there that may, or may not, back up my belief. And, perhaps my observations of how families function inside of family businesses over the years is clouded by my own belief system. However, I’ve seen enough over the years to make the statement that introducing your children to responsibility and commitment at a young age, will help them inside your family business, should that be the journey they eventually embark on.

This Week’s Tip

“Next time someone inside a family business is, or isn’t performing, ask them whether or not they once undertook chores, in their younger years.”