Conflict management in family businesses
When emotions at dinner block company development
In family businesses, conflict rarely concerns only Excel numbers. More often it's about who is right at Sunday dinner. Since 2016, we have been entering companies where disputes between father and son or siblings halt key investments. At Arka Przymierza, we don't play at psychotherapy. We focus on ensuring the company stops losing an average of 12,400 PLN per month due to decision-making paralysis. We talk specifically about numbers and how to save the assets you've built over 14 or 19 years.
47 closed cases and clear succession rules
Our team of mediators has so far conducted 47 full processes in companies employing from 22 to 78 employees. We usually close the process in 7 sessions lasting 3 hours each. We set hard rules: who is responsible for transfers, and who for relations with suppliers. (Heads-up: we don't take assignments if one side refuses to meet at a common table). We close disputes, we open businesses to new markets, because after our mediation, the management board finally knows which way this ship is sailing.
In March 2024, we worked with a construction wholesaler near Grojec. The conflict over profit sharing between the brothers lasted 16 months and almost led to the departure of 4 key sales representatives. After 5 meetings with us, the partners signed a settlement that saved an export contract worth 342,000 PLN. Our method is to create a document that clearly defines on 11 pages what is private and what belongs to the company. Discretion is our standard, not a promise – no one outside the people in the mediation room will find out about your problems.
How long does it take to repair business relationships?
The first analysis of the situation usually takes us 3 business days. After this time, you receive a written report from us with a diagnosis: where communication is breaking down and how much it costs your business every day of delay. We don't promise that everyone will suddenly start loving each other, but we will lead to a situation where board meetings will be shortened from 4 hours to a specific 75 minutes. We save transactions on the edge because we know that time is money, and in a family business, time is also the peace of mind of your loved ones.
We work with two generations of owners at the same time. We help seniors hand over the reins without fear of losing control, and juniors take over responsibility without constant evaluation. We may not be the cheapest option on the market, but our rates are fixed and known from the start. One thing is certain: the cost of mediation is a fraction of what you would lose on court cases lasting 3 years in Warsaw courts. Choose a time for a 15-minute phone call to check if we can enter your company next week.