Christian Stewart’s The Value of Family Meetings During Pandemic
The Value of Family Meetings During Pandemic
By: Maria Chonita Rivera - Cejas
T
he pandemic brought a plethora of the implausible and the possible. We Praise as we Pause, Pivot and Pursue the meaning of Life’s Purpose. Among other callings in life for Whom do we live for? More than ever, the word and dedication for FAMILY has been put to a fore. Christian Stewart, Managing Director of Family Legacy Asia (HK) Limited, in his speech during the Asian Family Enterprise Conference (AFEEC) on June 25-26, this year opined that families are ‘ evidently and intentionally finding time to connect’. He further stressed the Value of Family Meeting in Times of Pandemic.
The Center for Parenting Education has posed this working definition of Family Meetings, as discussions that involve all family members who are concerned about or affected by a particular issue. The family meeting agenda can carry on a myriad of topics; from family civil status, to family experiences, planning a family trip or it can just be a Time Together and or try to talk about problem identification, or finding solutions, or simply preservation and trying to prevent occurrence of possible problems.
Rebecca Buick wrote in Big Life Journal in May 2009, elucidated that – “ The Family Meeting is a key to building a connected, positive family culture. Family Meetings may take the form of a Celebration of special days or successful achievements or it may just be an informative announcement of project tasks and delegation of stressful issues. While at it, generally it embodies among the involved family members a good opportunity for practice of - better communication, problem-solving skills, being proactive and mindful about the challenges.
Children’s sense of independence grows when they make decisions that impact the family’’.
Family Meetings: A Blessing or a Bother?
Some sectors in our society are quickly throwing talks - God’s wrath, end of the world, repent! Forgiveness, Humility, Pray. While some science-tech followers are taking it just as it is; some trouble to be threaded out, a problem to be managed – controlled; a vexation that needs vaccination 😊; others are headstrong and steadfast that all these pose to us, a test of wills.
I remember a power-point slide I have always used when I do Orientation Trainings on Change Development and Continuing Improvement (CI) or ‘Kaizen’; it is a quote from John F Kennedy relating a story that ‘’the Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis’ - the first brush stroke means ‘danger’; the second brush means ‘opportunity’. In every crisis, we must not forget to recognize opportunity. To add, let us be aware of the possible danger. And now, I got an additional inspirational quote from Roy T. Bennett, when he said that there are seeds of opportunity and growth in every challenge, in every adversity.
Needless to say, this remarkable period in our lives has drawn us to look inside and within ourselves, erstwhile expressing primordial care and concern for immediate family members. We are all blessed! The struggle of physically connecting and emotionally relating with family members can be ‘real’; for the very least taking heed of government rules, on safety protocols; albeit, some maybe arbitrary. Another blessing to boost, as we welcome and embrace with more necessity the digital world.
Family Meetings: A Firm or a Frill?
I am a parent, and I believe most parents, just as I am, strive for a strong and connected family (be in the same household or despite air miles distance), where parental (Filipino) values are deeply instilled and children are heard and appreciated. While staying strong and getting connected as a family goal is important, it can also be most challenging. Despite good intentions, some things may get in the way, daily routines and inevitable detours can undermine best efforts, attention can be drawn to putting out fires, solving conflicts rather than the family bonding and deepening the connections.
The common adage, ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and so does the tendency to take the path of temporariness. We are on to normalcy and we can be back to the pre-position where we may regard this 2-year period only a pandemic thrill or frill?
But what if a simple strategy of creating a bonded, resilient family unit is the key to unravel the humdrum and hussle of daily grind and our greater altruistic goals for our families? Christian Stewart has quoted Rick Hanson, and I further adapt and embrace this thought process, reflection and discovery; ‘ Resilience is drawn from our mental resources like determination, self-worth and kindness, able to cope with adversity, push through challenges, pursuit of opportunities.
Experiences of Well-being when internalized, builds inner strength which in turn make you more resilient. Well-being and Resilience promote each other in an upward spiral’., firming up development, learning and growth, with an underlying sense of happiness, love and peace.
Family Meetings fosters well-being – underlying sense of happiness, love, peace; it further builds the inner strength of resilience.
Robert Schuller in his book, Bouncing Back, has this treatise which I adapted when I had the opportunity to head the group of HR professionals at the time of worldwide financial recession in t2009 and most recently I made into a poster in my home office, ‘Tough Times never last, Tough people do!’. Quite a favorite adage of general survivors, well at least inspiring!. Family meetings during the pandemic become more than a rallying point for supporting each other, demonstrating love and care.
Family Meetings are essential whether respective families have established businesses or just mere aggrupation of family kin and relatives. It is a tool that families can take advantage of and discover more opportunities for and with each other; or even by simple affirmation of being there for each other.
Family Meeting: Succeed or Skid?
Family business management espouses the 3-circle role model of family business. Families meet not only for bonding and fellowship, but for a more serious note, can thread pursuits of livelihood and business. While we always said that Family Meetings may not come too easily; it’s worth its while, and to each and every respective world of specific families, an ultimate worth. Meetings, aside from resolving differences, encourage motivation, and are used to facilitate business decisions on making the best future scenario of their family enterprise.
Family meetings can build families Great! After all, and when other things may slide, but families stay; they are the ones you are born with and destined to be forever. What better way to foster purposive growth and embrace the pursuit of Life's Meaning.
Business can change, but Family is forever.
Family Meetings. It is a Mindset…NOW!
I remember a power-point slide I have always used when I do Orientation Trainings on Change Development and Continuing Improvement (CI) or ‘Kaizen’; it is a quote from John F Kennedy relating a story that ‘’the Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis’ - the first brush stroke means ‘danger’; the second brush means ‘opportunity’. In every crisis, we must not forget to recognize opportunity. To add, let us be aware of the possible danger. And now, I got an additional inspirational quote from Roy T. Bennett, when he said that there are seeds of opportunity and growth in every challenge, in every adversity.
Needless to say, this remarkable period in our lives has drawn us to look inside and within ourselves, erstwhile expressing primordial care and concern for immediate family members. We are all blessed! The struggle of physically connecting and emotionally relating with family members can be ‘real’; for the very least taking heed of government rules, on safety protocols; albeit, some maybe arbitrary. Another blessing to boost, as we welcome and embrace with more necessity the digital world.
The common adage, ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and so does the tendency to take the path of temporariness. We are on to normalcy and we can be back to the pre-position where we may regard this 2-year period only a pandemic thrill or frill?
But what if a simple strategy of creating a bonded, resilient family unit is the key to unravel the humdrum and hussle of daily grind and our greater altruistic goals for our families? Christian Stewart has quoted Rick Hanson, and I further adapt and embrace this thought process, reflection and discovery; ‘ Resilience is drawn from our mental resources like determination, self-worth and kindness, able to cope with adversity, push through challenges, pursuit of opportunities.
Experiences of Well-being when internalized, builds inner strength which in turn make you more resilient. Well-being and Resilience promote each other in an upward spiral’., firming up development, learning and growth, with an underlying sense of happiness, love and peace.
Family Meetings fosters well-being – underlying sense of happiness, love, peace; it further builds the inner strength of resilience.
Robert Schuller in his book, Bouncing Back, has this treatise which I adapted when I had the opportunity to head the group of HR professionals at the time of worldwide financial recession in t2009 and most recently I made into a poster in my home office, ‘Tough Times never last, Tough people do!’. Quite a favorite adage of general survivors, well at least inspiring!. Family meetings during the pandemic become more than a rallying point for supporting each other, demonstrating love and care.
Family Meetings are essential whether respective families have established businesses or just mere aggrupation of family kin and relatives. It is a tool that families can take advantage of and discover more opportunities for and with each other; or even by simple affirmation of being there for each other.
Family meetings can build families Great! After all, and when other things may slide, but families stay; they are the ones you are born with and destined to be forever. What better way to foster purposive growth and embrace the pursuit of Life's Meaning.
Business can change, but Family is forever.
Family Meetings. It is a Mindset…NOW!
