Macht in Unternehmerfamilien

In his lecture „Power in Entrepreneurial Families“ (2022), Prof. Dr Heiko Kleve provides a fundamental introduction to the topic of power and contextualises it from the perspectives of systems theory and interaction theory. He demonstrates that power cannot be understood merely as a characteristic of individual persons, but rather as a means of communication through which behaviour is influenced and decisions are enforced.

The lecture illustrates that power within families operates primarily through a sense of belonging, trust, emotional bonds and the ability to impose sanctions. In entrepreneurial families, these dynamics take on added significance because family roles, generational succession, sibling positions and entrepreneurial responsibility are closely intertwined.

Prof. Dr Heiko Kleve makes it clear that power dynamics within entrepreneurial families are often linked to individuals, roles or principles of seniority. To avoid conflicts, there needs to be transparency regarding who wields influence, what expectations exist and what rules apply within the family, the ownership structure and the business. The lecture thus provides an important stimulus for reflection on leadership, roles and power in entrepreneurial families.