Available on Amazon in Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
That can be a dream or a nightmare.
What makes the difference?
Knowing how to navigate differences — and the multiple roles you share.
This book addresses the human side of family firms — where relationships, roles, and decisions collide.
Many important boundaries in a family business don’t look like boundaries at all. They show up in everyday decisions and practices, such as:
Who is included in which decisions — and who is not
How feedback is given — and whether it’s offered as a parent, sibling, manager, or owner
The criteria used for hiring, promotion, and leadership roles — and whether they are applied consistently
Where and when business conversations happen — and where they don’t
How responsibility is handled when performance falls short — and who carries the consequences
In family business, many of the boundaries that matter most don’t feel restrictive. They feel like clarity.
Drawing on real-life family business examples, In the Company of Family helps families understand how boundaries shape decisions, relationships, and outcomes when facing challenges such as:
In practice, a boundary is anything that creates clear distinction — such as between roles, responsibilities, and decisions. The principles of boundaries provide ways to think clearly about where those distinctions belong.
When boundaries are clear, individuals, relationships, and organizations are better able to thrive — not because problems go away, but because what supports healthy functioning is protected.
The Principles of Boundaries provide a way to think clearly about roles, responsibility, and decisions by considering factors such as:
In the Company of Family addresses an important element in the complex lives of families in business. It highlights the overlapping roles and boundaries that can easily trip up those who work with family members. Through well-chosen anecdotes and an approachable style, Melissa Mitchell-Blitch shows us where boundary problems naturally occur and how to resolve them with grace, clarity, and respect. If you work with the ones you love, this will be a valuable resource.
Many within the worlds of family enterprise and intergenerational legacies acknowledge the importance of boundaries. Few really understand the roots of boundaries or the art of nurturing healthy boundaries. Melissa Mitchell-Blitch shares in a concise, easily understood way, how to build, repair and maintain boundaries. This book is sure to be shared widely and frequently as families and family enterprises work, serve and share together.
Family and business dynamics are complex for families in business. Through the careful use of case studies, Melissa Mitchell-Blitch, explores the power forces of family relationships. Her approach is practical, with questions for families to discuss, a thorough assessment for families to complete, and most importantly, specific actions that families may take together so that both their family and business thrive. Read this book and transform your family.
A family with a family business faces many issues that are far from financial. This clear and useful book is a great read for families that have a family business and are struggling with family issues that spill over into the business. The author presents clear concepts like boundaries, roles and communication, offers some case studies and thoughts on how to address this issue and then offers activities and reflections that can be applied to your own family. With many books appearing on this topic, I find this a clear, useful, practical guide that can be used by a family as their first introduction to these issues.
Learning the beauty of setting and appreciating boundaries ignited a metamorphosis of growth and maturation in me. The knowledge empowered me to think and feel differently, to have a healthy “yes” and a healthy “no.” It positively affected my relationship with self and others and helped me be a peacemaker, creating harmony. Setting boundaries will help you be the best version of yourself.
Boundaries can easily be blurred when working in a family business. Melissa provides a simple framework around boundaries that has changed my outlook and actions. I used to think boundaries were selfish, but now I know they are critical in creating thriving relationships and a balanced, happy life. I only wish I'd discovered these tools earlier. I highly recommend Melissa's body of work!
Melissa has demonstrated a unique talent in guiding us through the principles of boundaries in our personal and business lives on our family farm. I continue to learn each time I engage in boundary management. I encourage you to let Melissa help you learn how to live a FULL life by applying boundary skills.
Available in multiple formats via Amazon: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
