Family Engagement: How to get the next generation to the table

In the last NextGen post, I shared some insights into what keeps some younger family members from becoming engaged in the business of the family. 

Here’s a list of practical ideas and strategies to encourage engagement with the next generation and other family members. These ideas come from experiences shared by Family Office Exchange members, the FOX Education Toolkit, and input from industry professionals:

• Create and implement a family engagement survey to understand how individuals want to be engaged and get feedback to inform engagement activities.
• Identify a small project that aligns with the interests and passions of an unengaged family member and ask them to lead. Make sure you tell them what’s in it for them, why it’s a good fit and be encouraging. 
• Implement job shadowing of family office staff or inside the family business to build relationships and connections with people and the business of the family.
• Institute a family mentorship program or new spouse mentoring with other in-laws.
• Introduce pre-family meetings or calls for individuals to get educated by reviewing topics that will be discussed in the meeting. Doing this helps promote active participation by increasing comfort-level. 
• Design competitive games with an educational element and incorporate into family meetings. Have fun and learn at the same time!
• Create and distribute family newsletters with interesting, fun content and activities.
• Coordinate an annual teen cousins trip at an adventure camp to foster personal development, team work, leadership and communication skills.