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About Greg Giesen, aka Dr. Mac
Expertise
I can answer any question that has to do with working relationships, management skills (or lack there of), conflict, and leadership. I primarily work with troubled teams, groups with poor management, or general dysfunction for over twenty-five years. I am also an author of six management books, a graduate professor at the University of Denver, and a radio talk show host on workplace issues. Go to www.askdrmac.com for more information.

Experience
Again, twenty-five years of experience in resolving employee/management workplace issues.

Organizations
ASTD, Toastmasters Int'l, OD Network, Training & Development Visit me on LinkedIn.com

Publications
Published articles written by Greg Giesen: • Conflict Between Two Employees May Reflect on Organization, published in the Denver Business Journal. • Meeting Management: Let’s Cut to the Chase, published in the Colorado Human Resouce Association's magazine, The Advisor. • From Conflict to Collaboration, appearing in the Executive Excellence Magazine. • Leading From Within, appearing in Personal Excellence Magazine. • Only an Integrated Approach Will Increase Employee Motivation, appearing in OD Network magazine, Practicing. • Motivational Mastery, appearing in Sales & Service Excellence Magazine. • Creating Collaboration: A Process that Works, appearing in Projects & Profits magazine, India. • Eight Simple Rules to Resolving Conflict, appearing in the Society for Human Resource Management magazine. • The Value of Vision, accepted into the Life Lessons for Leaders book, due out in January, 2010. Books I've written: • Creating Authenticity: Meaningful Questions for Meaningful Moments, 2008, ISBN: 0-9721114-0-9, • Creating Authenticity: Meaningful Questions for the Minds and Souls of Today’s Leaders, 2008, ISBN: 0-9721114-1-7, • Ask Dr. Mac: Take the Journey to Authentic Leadership, 2007, ISBN: 0-9788555-0-7.

Education/Credentials
EDUCATION Masters of Science, 1982, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Major: Personnel Services & Counseling. Bachelor of Arts, 1979, Western State College, Gunnison, Colorado. Majors: Psychology & Sociology. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT • Your Best Year Yet Certification, Best Year Yet, LLC. • DiSC Certification, Resources Unlimited. • Social Styles Pro II Certification, Cahners TRACOM Group. • Consultant’s Training, Corporate Transformation Tools, Richard Barrett & Associates. • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Qualification Training, NTL. • Adventure Systems & Design, Challenge Course Certification. • The Coaches Training Institute, The Professional Coaching Course. • Group Process Consultation, NTL. • Mediating EEO, Personnel & Employee Relations Disputes, CDR. • Conflict Resolution Workshop, Aiki Works, Inc. • Facilitator Training, (270-hours), Good Works Unlimited. • Wilderness Therapy Practicum, Colorado Outward Bound School. • The Human Element, Will Schutz & Associates.

Awards and Honors
-Master Teacher award, The University of Denver, -Leading From Within (www.leadingfromwithin.net) program won Best Practices award from the American Society of Training & Development. -Ask Dr. Mac (management book) won a bronze medal for best business fable in 2008.

Past/Present Clients
Hewlett-Packard, CH2M-Hill, First Data Corp., US Forest Service, Judicial Council of California, Anheuser-Busch, American Red Cross, Children's Hospital of Denver, AMC Cancer Research Ctr., National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, American Water Works Assoc., Denver Public Schools, Triple Crown Casinos, Republic Financial Corp., Denver Public Library, Wheat Ridge Police Dept., Florida Human Resource Assoc., BlueCross BlueShield

You are here: Experts > Business > Management > Dealing with Bosses and Coworkers > Family Business Issues

Dealing with Bosses and Coworkers - Family Business Issues

Expert: Greg Giesen, aka Dr. Mac - 11/3/2009

Question
I work at a family owned business with my parents. My father started the company about eight years ago and I came on board seven years ago. It was a small operation but we were able to get it off the ground. I feel like I was the main contributor to getting the company rolling since I developed the software program that allowed the business to run efficiently and grow as new sales came in.

Approximately three years into it, my father brings my mother into the company so she could move away from her previous job and gave her something to do. Her duties are limited but since she likes to be in control she puts her influence in every employee’s job and all daily activities. She has become the boss of the company by simply always having the final say.

My biggest issue is that she has a terrible addiction to shopping and thus requires a hefty payroll to support her habit. Although I run all day-to-day operations and generate all sales income for the company, she earns more than twice as much as I do. Most days I feel like my job is to have the company earn enough money so she can get paid her unjustified high salary. It’s not that I have an issue with her earning a significant income; it’s the disparity between her income and all other employees in the company.

My question to you is what is the best way to approach this issue? My father is often caught in the middle of knowing what is right and trying not to have to deal with her wrath on a personal level. After all, he has to live with her after hours. One of my dilemmas of approaching my father is that I really appreciate everything that I have been given – from this job to my salary to any benefits that I receive. But I don’t like the growing resentment that I have towards my mother as I watch her pillage this companies resources and puts it in great financial stress.

Answer
Hi Jonathan.

You make the statement that your mom's addiction to shopping is why she is getting a hefty payroll. I'm not sure you want to go there. The two may not be related and I'd suggest you release that assumption. I'm guessing that she liked shopping before and that this is not anything new.

Is your mother spending company money on shopping? If so, is she purchasing things the company needs? I ask because if this is true, then it is a separate issue from what she is getting paid. If it is true, then you have a legitimate gripe to bring to your father. If she is not spending company money when she shops, then once again, let it go. Why waste energy on something so insignificant.

The issues as I see them are:
1. The salary your mother is making.
2. The role that your mother is now playing in the company.
3. Your frustration with your father who clearly is playing right into this dynamic.
4. You feel a little under-appreciated, given how you've helped the company more than your mother has.

Am I close?

Certainly talking with your father is the best option. I'm talking about a heart-to-heart conversation here where you diplomatically lay your frustrations out on the table as discussion items, as opposed to complaints. Be prepared to have some solutions however.

Another option is to get your father to buy in to the idea of bring a consultant in to assess the company on multiple levels, from efficiency to management practices to salary distribution. There are consultants who specialize in family business issues. This approach lets an objective outsider make recommendations that might be better received than if your brought them up. All you have to do is sell your father and mother on the idea of bringing in someone. It is no different than going to the doctor for a physical or bringing your car in for a check-up. Just a good practice to do periodically.

Lastly, there seems to some issues for you with your mother. You may want to see a counselor for a bit in order to separate out the business aspect of your relationship with your personal side. It is not unusual in family businesses to mix these two together. Not good.

-Dr. Mac

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