It Isn't Just Business EP 11

Kim is tackling this episode on her own today and she’s not holding back. You know that she and Darren have both talked about how business is never just business, especially when it’s a family business.  When someone says “it’s not personal, it’s business” no one feels better about what comes next, right? Today, Kim is doing a deep dive into this phrase, how it gets used and what it means.  It’s not personal, it’s business. If you say this to a family member (or employee) after making a business decision, you’ve told yourself that how the decision impacts others isn’t your responsibility. You’ve shifted that to “the business” to avoid personally owning what’s coming next.  When we use this statement, as a leader we’re trying to sidestep the emotional piece. It might be because you are uncomfortable, or you’re worried that someone else will have a response that you’ll find difficult.  Kim also addresses the all-or-nothing approach. If we can’t say this is just business, then she’s been asked if people must make poor decisions to spare someone’s feelings or allow the business to fail so no one gets upset.  No, of course not. Being personal and having emotions is part of being human. It’s certainly part of family dynamics. Instead of avoiding them, or pretending they don’t matter, she explains better options.  We like to think we can compartmentalize who we are. We can’t. Kim explains, “who you are at home or outside of work is going to come up at work”. It’s okay to be human, have feelings and emotions, even at work. If you hear this phrase from someone else, as the receiver, how does that feel? That statement minimizes us as individuals. It also glosses over what is happening and we often feel like it’s not okay to have any feelings about what was shared. Make sure people feel seen and heard. As a leader, you can control the tone, the warmth, and the way you share difficult information. Acknowledge that this is hard for you as the leader, and for the person you’re talking to. If someone isn’t doing well at work, they likely know that and are aware that a difficult conversation is coming. You can be respectful and kind when you have the discussion.  I’d rather err on the side of grace than judgement. I truly believe that everyone wants to do better. They just need the time and opportunity to do better.  – Kim Hiebert What’s your take on this phrase? Do you use it? How do you feel when others say this to you? We’d love to know. Connect with Kim and Darren Get the Bubble Bath Boardroom Weekly Email Here   Connect on Instagram – THE HIEBERTS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices