In enterprising families, tension isn’t always loud or explosive. It can look like a brother who stops returning calls after a leadership meeting. A sister who quietly takes over a parent’s role without ever discussing it. A next-generation member who agrees to a plan but never follows through.
It shows up in ways that can be easily overlooked—or even dismissed with a simple explanation. It doesn’t seem like a threat to the family or business. But Dr. Shay Harris-Pierre says otherwise.
This type of tension is called passive conflict. Often, passive conflict festers because the family is too scared to risk acknowledging its existence. It’s like a can of worms—no one wants to open it. Other times, roles and expectations make it difficult—even impossible—to acknowledge the tension.
This article explores the seven red flags of passive conflict that families should look out for in their enterprises.
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