WINNS Services is a family run business.
There are many advantages to running a family business, such as:
Stability
Although the leadership of a family business is normally determined by the position of each individual in the family, WINNS has a Board of Directors and is focused on working to employee’s strengths and the best man for the job.
Longevity in Leadership
Longevity in leadership ensures overall stability within a family-run business. In many family-owned companies, the business leader will stay in the position for many years, with life events - such as illness, retirement or death - being the trigger for change at the top and I am sure that there have been times when murder should have been added to this list.
Commitment
Family firms tend to have a greater sense of commitment and accountability at their heart than non-family firms, as it is not just the needs of the business at stake, but the needs of the family too. This desire for both the family and business to stay strong fosters additional benefits, including a greater understanding of the industry, the organisation and the job; stronger customer relationships; and more effective sales and marketing.
Flexibility
Working in a family-run firm requires a lot of flexibility. While non-family businesses tend to have very clearly delineated responsibilities for every role, family members will sometimes be required to wear several different hats, taking on tasks outside of their formal remit where needed. WINNS is proud that all its Managerial roles are fulfilled by employees who are flexible in their response to the Company’s and client’s needs irrespective of blood lines.
Long-term outlook
Non-family firms draw up their goals for the next quarter. Family firms, however, think years - or even decades - ahead. A longer-term perspective is a good way to foster a culture of clear strategy and decision-making throughout the business.
Decreased cost
Economic downturns and other challenging times can be a struggle for many businesses, where the Board of Directors needs to work out how to keep the business afloat while still paying staff. In family firms, however, it will often be the case that family members are willing to contribute financially to keeping the business afloat during times like these.
It may be that this involves taking a temporary pay cut, contributing some of their own finances, or pausing the payment of dividends while the company gets back on its feet. For the family behind the business, long-term business success is crucial to their financial survival, which gives more flexibility where finances are concerned.
WINNS is pleased that this scenario has never been put to the test.
But is it all plain sailing?
Recognising that the answer to this question is, no, the family at the head of WINNS recognises its responsibility to all its staff and clients by making the tough decisions.
A lack of family interest
All our children have worked within the business from an early age, however, they have been encouraged to become like Dick Wittington and seek their fame and fortune wherever best suits. This being so, WINNS often makes use of their services provided by their new independent ventures, i.e. recruitment, marketing, to name but a few.
No one wants a workforce that is apathetic, unenthusiastic and disengaged, least of all their mum and dad.
Conflict between family members
The family is very consciously determined not to allow any blurring of the boundaries between family life and work life and, as a course of habit, any issues are resolved within the correct domain with the humour and sense of the ridiculous that all family members retain.
A lack of structure
WINNS prides itself on its processes and procedures to ensure that structure is maintained by all, not just family.
BUT WHAT IS FAMILY
The goal for any business owner is to be clear about what the strengths and weaknesses of the indiduals that make up a business are. A family business should be the same.
To ensure future success, family run businesses, like WINNS, need to address those weaknesses by employing outside of the family and to welcome the challenge and diversity that these colleagues present.
At WINNS the ratio at Head Office best practices for its staff and clients alike.
The family ethos within WINNS ensures that staff and clients alike are ‘adopted’ to the fold.