3 questions before joining the family business

Many people join their family’s business without enough forethought or due diligence. The company may be a logical place to build your career, but how do you know whether it’ll be a good fit? Asking three questions can help: First, what is motivating you to join? It’s likely that there are many factors — maybe your father expects you to, or you think it’s your best shot at securing a senior position. Ideally, your motivation comes from your passion for the business, not just external pressures. Second, are the personal relationships among the family leaders healthy enough? Family members don’t always need to get along, but they do need to make good decisions together. Will your parents, siblings and cousins support you during the inevitable crises that will arise? Third, are you OK with being in the spotlight? Employees tend to watch family members closely. How you behave will reflect, for better or worse, on the full family.

(Adapted from “Should You Join the Family Business?” by Judy Lin Walsh and Rob Lachenauer.)

Should you trust that research study you read about?

Academic studies in the social sciences often find very different results from each other, which makes it hard to know which ones to trust. To be a smart consumer of this type of research, do a few things. First, don’t rely too much on any one study. Whenever possible, look for meta-analyses or systematic reviews that compare the results from many studies, as they can provide more-credible evidence and suggest reasons that results differ. Second, pay attention to a study’s sample size. Researchers are less likely to successfully replicate others’ results if the study looked at a small number of people or companies, for example. Similarly, consider the peculiarities of the sample or the study’s methods. How did the researchers come to study the specific sample they did? What kinds of factors could have skewed the results? Finally, always remember: If a study’s results sound too good to be true, they probably are.

(Adapted from “How to Be a Smart Consumer of Social Science Research,” by Eva Vivalt.)

We all say ‘um,’ ‘like,’ and ‘you know’ too much. Here’s how to stop

Like most people, you probably lean on filler words while speaking, such as “um,” “ah,” or “you know.” But these verbal crutches diminish your credibility and distract from your message. To drop them from your speech, replace them with pauses. Start by identifying the filler words you use too often, and then pair them with an action. For example, every time you catch yourself saying “like,” tap your leg. This word-action pairing will help you be more aware of how you speak. Next, replace the filler words with a silent pause. This is the hard part, and practice is key. As you notice a filler word escaping your lips, don’t say it — just stay quiet for a moment. If you still find yourself struggling, try recording yourself while you talk about your day. Practice using pauses instead of filler words as you recall the day’s events. Over time, you’ll build a habit of not using filler words at all.

(Adapted from “How to Stop Saying ‘Um,’ ‘Ah,’ and ‘You Know,’” by Noah Zandan.)

We’re all behind at work. Don’t feel guilty about it

When you have a never-ending to-do list, it’s easy to feel guilty about what you haven’t finished. But guilt is useful only when it motivates you to get more done — it shouldn’t make you feel ashamed. To ease these kinds of emotions when they arise, exercise self-compassion. Imagine what you’d say to a friend who felt bad for being behind on a few projects. Chances are you’d tell your friend not to worry about it so much — so tell yourself the same thing. You can also make yourself feel better by focusing on what you have been able to accomplish. Keep a “done list” in addition to your to-do list, so you can remind yourself of past work. And always remember: All that work you have to do will be there tomorrow, whether you feel guilty about it or not. So cut yourself some slack, take a breath and just do your best.

(Adapted from “You’re Never Going to Be ‘Caught Up’ at Work. Stop Feeling Guilty About It,” by Art Markman.)

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, October 22nd, 2018