Learning to let go

In their practical guide Learning to Let Go: How the Senior Generation Can Proactively Shape the Handover Process and Their Own Transformation (2025), Simon Caspary, Prof. Dr. Tom A. Rüsen, and Prof. Dr. Heiko Kleve provide in-depth insights into one of the most critical and personal challenges for family entrepreneurs: the process of letting go. Published by the WIFU Foundation and introduced by Prof. Dr. Rudolf Wimmer, this guide addresses the complex emotional and psychological dimensions that accompany the transition of leadership and ownership in family businesses.

The authors illustrate how the outgoing generation can not only manage the technical aspects of succession but also actively shape their own internal transformation. They emphasize the importance of recognizing grief and identity loss as integral parts of this transition and offer practical reflections and exercises to support this process. By focusing on proactive self-development and redefining daily routines and roles, senior leaders are encouraged to find new meaning beyond their entrepreneurial activities and to consciously create a fulfilling next phase of life.

Moreover, the guide explores how a thoughtful and emotionally aware handover positively impacts family dynamics and ensures the long-term sustainability of the business. It addresses essential questions such as: Who am I without my business? What gives my life meaning beyond success? The publication thus offers valuable impulses for outgoing leaders to engage with their own biography, values, and visions for the future. Through its holistic and reflective approach, this work stands as a comprehensive support tool for successful generational transitions within business families.