The Scoutmaster’s Son, Entitlement

All family members need to display the work ethic of the founding generation and exhibit the commitment they demand of other employees in order to be successful from generation to generation. A sense of entitlement to the business can easily undermine all of the hard work that has made the firm successful.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America ( BSA). A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than two million young men.

Requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating Scout Spirit through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, service, and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages.

Merit badges are awards earned by youth members of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), based on activities within an area of study by completing a list of periodically updated requirements. The purpose of the merit badge program is to allow Scouts to examine subjects to determine if they would like to further pursue them as a career or vocation. Originally, the program also introduced Scouts to the life skills of contacting an adult they hadn’t met before, arranging a meeting and then demonstrating their skills, similar to a job or college interview. Increasingly, though, merit badges are earned in a class setting at troop meetings and summer camps.

My friend’s son was frustrated with his scouting leadership or its absence. George was Bobby’s age, it was just announced that almost overnight George had completed six merit badges and was being submitted for his Eagle award. Bobby knew five of the six were a shame. Five friends of George’s mother suddenly had signed up and issuing merit bandages and George’s separated dad was the scoutmaster. George and his parents had a sense of entitlement

Family businesses with family members working in the firm may have similar issues. Entitlement refers to a sense of being “owed” such benefits as: wealth; employment; and status without having to work to achieve these benefits. Some children who grow up in a successful family business can be inclined to a feeling of entitlement. Family members who display a sense of entitlement often do not contribute as positively to the business.

Entitlement can lead to family members who do not display the work ethic or exhibit the commitment of other employees. Family members who have a sense of entitlement often expect non-family employees to “live to work” — while family member employees take lots of time off. A sense of entitlement can also lead to a family member managing in an autocratic style — feeling that they can do whatever they want in the business and yet non-family employees need to do exactly as they are told.

Third generations in Family Businesses are when many of the survivors fail. Wonder why? There is only 12% surviving into the third generation. Many of today’s third generation are Gen Y or millennial. Many studies accredit Gen Y with a sense of entitlement.

How does your family business prevent and address entitlement?