So I married into a family business; now what?

I would say PR and web presence for a factory would be what you could best for them.

Most factories have no idea how to market themselves out of the area, which is a key growth area for most of them.

I would work within the current marketing functions and help them carry that message a little bit farther out.

Obviously one thing they really need to get out is a testimonial campaign- any business around for five decades has to be doing something right.

Tread carefully my dear. The battlefield is littered with the casualties of the Business Wives Club. I've often thought that there was an entire industry just waiting to be formed to provide support, solace, products, coaching and retreats for business wives. You ladies in business with fathers, husbands, brothers, brother in-laws, children and other assorted relatives have an especially challenging role of go between. Any other survivors care to further enlighten Leila on the joy and pain of family business as a wife working in the business?

Hi Leila

I would begin with listening and talking to people. Understand and appreciate and build relationships

Building relationships is the only place to begin. Travel and visit and ask questions. Ask how you can help? Ask people what they need and how they feel.

Don't mention anything about wanting to change anything because there is a chance they will look at you as the bosses wife and what do you know! But once you build the relationships and you are accepted- its another story. That might take awhile.

Good luck. Kaya

So, I am wondering: Has your input been asked for, invited in? Perhaps this seems like an obvious question….I mean you’re his wife, and perhaps an adjunct second in command. But perhaps not. If he has been in this business for a long time, and knows the ins and outs of it, maybe he sees no changes are necessary …for now.

I go along with the idea of getting to know the business, and what makes it run. But I would approach this from the stand of being an interested life partner. Then, if your advice is needed /desired, you’ll be better informed.

If, on the other hand, your advice/counsel/ input/ business acumen is asked for right now, well, go for it, with a good dose of discernment. Watch for: irritability to comments, closed off body postures, and other signs of “tread no further”. Also watch and listen for openings you can naturally fill, and how best to support the boss to be the best boss ever.

A wonderful checklist from USDA for couples in business together: http://www.familybusinessonline.org/resources/action_checklists.htm

Also, see all the resources at the Austin School of Family Business (Oregon State University)http://www.familybusinessonline.org/.

Hi Leila, and congratulations!

I'm not going to tell you what to do--you are obviously intelligent, and your husband's family has been able to maintain a rust-belt asset in good order for all these years, so I doubt he needs advice either.
I would, however, like to be a fly on the wall when the gentlemen employees remark about your intentions after you've made your "uninvolved, just visiting" factory tour, having flown 2,000 miles just to say a cheerful "Hi, guys."
OK, I changed my mind. I just can't resist.
Before you do anything, check out a couple of things: 1)Your inner values and how you live them 2)The profitability/budget for the business 3)The plant culture--learn about it and use it to explain who they are and what they do.

Now, IF there is money to reinvest in the factory, whether from current operations or from other sources, and your husband is interested in your input, see if you can do something amazing and fun. Apply your values. Read up on QWL programs in factories. Figure out what you could afford to do that would make it a better company. Please let me know how things turn out--it's in my neck of the woods.

Leila, QWL= Quality of Work Life.
For a good analysis of the field by a couple thought leaders, look up:

Quality of work life: perspectives and directions. DA Nadler, EE Lawler 3rd - Organ Dyn. 1983 Winter;11(3):20-30 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

QWL was a big movement in the seventies as a backlash against the traditional bureaucratic structures in most businesses, especially factories. The experiments weren't universally successful, bu any means. US businesses were started to get killed by overseas competition and were clueless as to why. Think-Honda, Toyota, Nikon, Sony, BMW, etc. The idea was that most production jobs use very little of the whole person, and that the repetitive nature of most scientifically engineered jobs were both physically and mentally problematic. So the movement took several forms: 1) Job/plant redesign 2) Improved working conditions 3)Greater worker input into the work 4)Team approach to production rather than typical assembly line. 5)Profit-sharing. GM looked at how Toyota did this, and designed a new company around it --Saturn. The sad fact is that many factories are designed around a technology that leaves little room for work redesign. But there are always ways to make things better!
If you are interested in looking into any of these or various other options and how they can positively impact both the bottom line and the lives of your employees, I'd be happy to discuss with you and your husband. It's an exciting and extremely rewarding process. It's amazing how doing the right thing can be profitable. Best of luck,

Allan