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By Kim Mikus
Tom Lemanski knows first hand that
family dynamics often make operating a family business difficult.
Lemanski was involved in his family’s manufacturing business for
more than 20 years before pulling out because of internal conflicts.
The Kildeer man is making it his mission to help other family
businesses overcome obstacles.
Calling himself a family business coach, Lemanski operates Vista
Development from his home office.
The entrepreneur works with family businesses to develop
leadership in support of their common sense of purpose. Sibling
rivalry and differences created by generation gaps are issues that
Lemanski helps clients work through.
Lemanski often finds that the entrepreneur who starts the
business has a great deal of technical expertise. That founder often
devotes much of his or her time to the technical aspects of the
business, whether it be baking cookies or working in a manufacturing
plant. This type of person often fails to realize that the business
needs more to grow.
He provides the necessary tools to build skills that help develop
and grow a business. The areas of focus he addresses are people
skills, including communication, delegation and time management. He
also addresses goal setting and the attitudes that drive behavior.
“I help build peak performance in a business by building vision
and values driven people,” he said.
Lemanski stepped out of his family’s business about 18 months ago
when he faced a variety of conflicts from ownership succession to
sibling rivalry issues. He operated the business with his brother
and father.
Lemanski, 51, admitted that he went through a messy family
business divorce.
“I want to help others avoid going through all that,” he said.
He believes that if someone would have brought the issues to the
table that he addresses through Vista Development, things would have
been different. He has found that a family business can cause both
the business and family to suffer.
Lemanski, who has been married for 24 years, has a 21-year-old
son at Purdue University and a 17-year-old daughter at Carmel High
School. He started his own firm about a year ago.
Through his business he holds a series of workshops and meetings
tailored to the individual family firm. The meetings take place once
a week for four to 10 weeks.
For more, call (847) 726-7707 or
www.vista-development.com.
- Kim Mikus' column appears Tuesdays and Fridays. She can be
reached at (847) 427-4567 or at Kmikus@dailyherald.com.
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