Seeing the Bigger Picture: A Systems Lens for Enterprising Families

In enterprising families, no decision exists in isolation. Every shift - whether it’s a leadership transition, introducing new family members, or expanding the board to include the rising generation - ripples through the emotional, relational, and financial fabric of the family.

This is where systems thinking becomes so powerful.

In our article, written by Relative Solutions Partner Rebecca Meyer and published in Trusts & Estates, we explore how systems thinking can help families and their advisors see beyond surface-level problems to the deeper dynamics that often drive them. Instead of asking, “Who’s to blame?” we begin to ask more useful questions:

• What patterns are playing out here?

• Where are the pressure points?

• As an individual, what can you do to have a constructive impact on the system? ?

We also share how tools like genograms, reframed narratives, and recognizing patterns of communication (like triangulation) can illuminate the often invisible threads that shape family enterprise dynamics.

This article offers a thoughtful introduction to our approach, rooted in decades of working with multi-generational families who want to preserve and enhance their family connections, not just their wealth.

If you're curious to learn more, we invite you to read the full article: Systems Thinking in Enterprising Families (PDF).