Here’s a quick quiz to help you determine if your family business is having a negative impact on relationships in your family.
FAMILY BUSINESS WORK/LIFE BOUNDARY QUIZ
1=never 2=sometimes 3=often 4=always
My personal and business friends are the same people. ________
When I leave work, I don’t think about it – when I’m
off duty, I’m really off. ________
It’s important to feel personally close to the people
I work with, more so if they’re family members. ________
My performance review affects how I feel about myself. _________
When I have problems at home, it’s difficult to
concentrate at work. _________
I’m open about my personal life with my colleagues
including family members in the business. ________
I’d rather work closely with family members
in the company than by myself or with my own staff. _______
When family members are having personal difficulties
we should cut them more slack than other employees
and make allowance for their performance. ______
My needs and those of my immediate family take
precedence over the needs of the business or my
responsibilities at work. _____
Where someone is in the company hierarchy
doesn’t affect my personal relationship with him/her. ________
TOTAL _______
The higher the total, the thinner the boundary is between your personal life and the family business. You may be at risk for burnout, stress, and emotional as well as logistical overload.
