Recently, I had the delightful experience of seeing Disney Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” with my 27-year-old daughter. Much like its predecessor, this sequel artfully delves into the complexities of human emotions, resonating deeply within me personally and professionally. As someone who has spent the last 35 years working with enterprising families and has a passion for understanding family dynamics, the movie’s portrayal of emotions and their impact on our lives struck a chord.
In “Inside Out 2,” we see the introduction of new emotions and a deeper exploration of the tumultuous teen years. The film vividly demonstrates the unique role of the nine emotions in shaping a human being, namely, the film’s protagonist, Riley, as she enters her teen years. Along with the original emotions, Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, new emotions are introduced, including Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment.The film highlights how easily Anxiety, Envy, and Embarrassment can overshadow Joy and our Core Beliefs during adolescence. In some ways, “adolescence” accurately describes the many stages family enterprises move through with continual transitions, uncertainties, and strategic pivots. These transitions are often new terrain for family members – who also often serve in key roles as Shareholders, Employees (often Management), and sometimes on the Board. Even when roles are clearly outlined, this complexity often causes emotional confusion and chaos. Enter a pivotal character, Anxiety. In family business, emotions often run high and bleed “into other lanes,” particularly during transitions and crises, which can significantly influence clear thinking, decision-making, and relationships.
Understanding and managing our emotions so they serve our relationships and enterprises well is a lifelong journey.
Quick tip #1: Simply naming uncomfortable emotions can decrease their intensity and power. We can learn what our emotions have to teach us and the impact our multigenerational family patterns play in our lives, and then we can take steps toward managing them effectively.
Quick tip #2: When the going gets rough, give us a call! At DVFBC, we understand that family businesses are not just economic entities but emotional systems with deep family patterns. We guide multi-generational families in having hard conversations and developing leaders, teams, and the necessary policies and governance to build value throughout the whole system so that all flourish.
In addition to encouraging you to see Inside Out 2, take a minute to reflect:
Give us a call; we’re here to help guide multi-generational families every step of the way!