Entrepreneurs and Managers: A Family Portrait

Based on years of experience in consultation and career development with owners and managers of enterprises, the authors depict a psychological portrait of the typical entrepreneur, versus the typical manager, along with their “passion quests” and distinct relations to the business.A central tool used to enrich both the counseling of and the dialogue between entrepreneurs and managers is the understanding of their family dynamics. It is suggested that each comes from a different family dynamic with different energy sources and motivations. Entrepreneurs were often raised in relatively chaotic families in which the child was hardly seen by his parents. Their fathers were often absent either physically or psychologically and their mothers were often passionate and powerful dreamers, mostly of unfulfilled dreams. Managers were usually raised by attentive parents, who had high expectations of them and, consequently, criticized them often. Their mothers were mostly well functioning women. The consultation language should match each type’s inner quests. While entrepreneurs typically ask “why” and strive to leave a legacy, managers ask “how” and strive to be effective and to do a good job.Recommendations are made as to the nature of dialogue that may promote the consultation process with entrepreneurs and with managers.