“An owner’s death has a substantial emotional impact,” by Bob Deprez, Family Business Magazine, January/February 2013
In family businesses it is routinely incorrectly assumed that only the family members are significantly affected by the death of the owner. In reality the business owner is a significant life leader for the employees, who depend on that person for their livelihood.
The owner’s death will kindle emotions surrounding the death of other leaders in employees’ lives, specifically their parents (or, if their parents are still alive, the fear of losing them). The emotions of the past loss will magnify the grief felt from the owner’s death, further sapping emotional energy and heightening their reactions.
For these reasons, employees may react more strongly to the owner’s death than they would to the death of any other person in the organization. Business owners should be aware of this dynamic.
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