Managing Family Dynamics in Entrepreneurship: Finding the Right Balance
By Harriet Mears, Director and Founder of Secret Linen Store
From the cosy confines of our family home to the bustling floors of our linen business, my sisters Molly, Rosie, and I have mastered the art of running a company while keeping our family bonds strong. It’s a dance between professional duties and personal relationships—a balance that demands as much emotional intelligence as strategic planning.
Entrepreneurship may appear to be a solitary journey at first, but in a family business, it’s entirely different. When Molly and I first embarked on co-entrepreneurship, we were already accustomed to working together, having both worked at a fast-food restaurant when I was just 14 years old. Our successful ventures in various businesses laid the groundwork for what would become the Secret Linen Store, a testament to our combined spirit and a strong family bond, which literally made managing fabrics and designs our business.
Mixing family and entrepreneurship certainly has its challenges. For example, distinguishing between personal and professional life can be difficult. Consider a typical weekday—Molly refers to my place as her second home to avoid a difficult commute, and this has become our normal. This blending of personal and professional roles might confuse some, but for us, it highlights our dedication—not just as business owners, but as life partners on this journey together.
Our relationship thrives on open communication, allowing us to express our feelings openly. It’s a crucial element in dealing with the complications and challenges that come with business expansion and overlapping roles. Transparency and trust have strengthened our collaboration, even in the most difficult of times.
Setting boundaries is just as important as passion in maintaining balance. At home, my husband, who is also our Operations Director, and I follow rules—enforced by our children—that protect our personal lives from being overwhelmed by work. We leave business discussions behind once we enter our home, ensuring family harmony – and time to unwind!
But it’s not just about maintaining harmony. There’s a deep respect we hold for each role within our company. Rosie, stepping in when I was overwhelmed with my various responsibilities, has significantly strengthened our foundation. Her corporate savvy brings strategy and structure, qualities that have steered us towards greater stability.
Blending our unique personalities and skills, from Molly’s spontaneous creativity to my strategic guidance and Rosie’s leadership, has empowered us to overcome challenges and seize opportunities with expertise. Finding a balance that honours our individual strengths and our collective business goals has fostered an environment of mutual respect and inclusive teamwork.
Family relationships, particularly between siblings, can be marked by remnants of past conflicts. For Rosie and Molly, these old disputes could have easily hindered our progress. However, their professional collaboration powerfully demonstrates how past disagreements can be transformed into a strong foundation for the future.
This isn’t to say that working closely together doesn’t require personal boundaries—a space to maintain one’s individuality separate from the group identity. Rosie, for instance, upholds a clear division of responsibility that keeps business strategy separate from other areas without conflict.
On this journey, unity and trust, not competition, steer our course. Trust serves as our compass, directing us to make decisions that safeguard our business with the same enthusiasm we reserve for our family bonds.
To my fellow entrepreneurs managing family dynamics, my advice is deeply heartfelt and rooted in our collective experiences. Establish open lines of communication, set firm personal and professional boundaries, and move forward with a shared vision that uplifts every family member. Because when family ties are strengthened by a commitment to entrepreneurship, the possibilities are limitless.
