Mainebiz

V O L . X X X N O. X I I I J U N E 1 0 , 2 0 2 4 8 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E 150 Mill Street, Ste 3 Lewiston, ME 04240 15 Baxter Boulevard Portland, ME 04101 PROUDLY VOTED HEBERTCONSTRUCTION.COM COMMITTED TO OUR VALUES OF QUALITY, SAFETY, & COMMUNITY! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATING MEMBERS OF MDF'S INSTITUTE FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP (ICL) ELEPHANT CLASS. GRADS Anne Ball: Maine Development Foundation Jeff Beaule: City of Lewiston Jodi Benvie: KFI Tammy Bolduc: L.L.Bean Julie Buhler: Veterans' Memorial Library Rudy Caron: Harriman Architects Lindsay Conrad: Portland Trails Andrew Dana: Four Directions Development Corporation Luke Dyer: Town of Van Buren Farrah Fidler: LifeFlight of Maine Jon Gagne: Greater Portland Council of Governments Gerry Gibson: Lewiston Public Schools Diana Lakeman: Town of Millinocket Clara McCool: Greater Portland Council of Governments Brandie Michaud: KFI Allison Mills: Unum John Ochira: Maine Community Foundation Allison Page: Portland Symphony Orchestra Vivek Philip: The Jackson Laboratory EJ Roach: City of Old Town Glenys Salas: Town of Newtown, CT Justin Schlawin: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Cory Schnaible: Ethos | VONT Morgan Spencer: Greater Franklin Economic & Community Development Lauren Verhey: Ethos | VONT Amber Wheaton: Town of Millinocket Brent Wittman: Acadia Insurance Katie Yates: Central Maine Power Company MDF is now accepting applications for the 2024–2025 ICL class. For more info and to apply: mdf.org/ leadership-development/application A S K AC E Answered by Priscilla Hansen Mahoney, Blazing Trails Coaching The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a nonprofit association of independent consultants who value "Success through Collaboration." The public is welcome to attend its regular meetings to share best practices and engage with industry experts. For more information go to www.consultexpertise.com. Priscilla Hansen Mahoney, of Blazing Trails Coaching, is the next-gen affinity group advisor for the Institute for Family-Owned Business and business coach specializing supporting small con- tracting businesses. She can be reached at priscilla@blazingtrailscoaching.com To learn more about the Institute for Family-Owned Business, visit its website fambusiness.org Q: How do I achieve work- life balance while working in a family business? ACE advises: I grew up in a family business. Both my husband and I now own small businesses. We do not have work-life balance — we have work-life agree- ments. Sometimes we work non-stop, agreeing that we are both responsible for making sure that the rest of life goes on. We maintain sanity by letting go of the expectation of perfect balance. What Experts Say: "While working for family can offer many benefits, it's important to recognize that it also comes with its own set of challenges, such as navigating complex family dynamics and maintaining boundaries between work and personal life," says Catherine Wygant Fossett, executive director of the Institute for Family-Owned Business. "By acknowledg- ing and addressing these challenges proac- tively, individuals can cultivate a supportive and productive work environment within their family business." What IFOB members recommend: Set boundaries: Agree that business is discussed during working hours, and family matters are discussed at home. Define working hours, expectations and responsibilities clearly. Stay in your lane: Define roles within the business, train and trust workers and resist the urge to micromanage. Enjoy family time: Families can spend all of their time together at work dur- ing busy periods. It is important to allocate leisure time for family activities outside the workplace. Prioritize and delegate tasks: Categorize tasks based on urgency and importance, allowing family members to allocate time to meet personal commitments. Delegate tasks according to individual strengths, to foster collaboration and prevent burnout while allowing meaningful contribution. Seek outside support: Family businesses are vulnerable to tunnel-vision and isolation. Remain open to external resources like coaches, consultants, mentors, and advisors. Achieving work-life balance in a family business requires clear communica- tion, boundaries, mutual respect and understanding. By defining roles, respect- ing boundaries and seeking external support, family members can navigate the challenges of blending work and personal life.

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