Richard Dana Associates (RDA) was brought in by the owners of a family-owned business with complex relationship issues at a time preceding an anticipated leadership transition. Following individual and group coaching sessions, RDA was able to help the leadership separate personal issues, and codify practices through formal policies to allow the leadership group to focus on business issues without personal complications. At the end of RDA's engagement, the client was well-positioned to begin developing a transition plan. Bob, founder, CEO, and owner of a 20-year-old, closely-held business, hoped to groom his 30-year-old son, Jack to take over the business in the next five years. The firm was currently co-run by Betty, the COO and Operations Manager. She was a longtime employee of the firm, and also had been Bob's life partner for most of that time. Both Jack and the firm were at a critical juncture, if Jack and the firm did not make a mutual commitment to each other in the next year or so, Jack would likely pursue alternative career options, closing a window of opportunity.
And yet Jack was not privy to many of the decisions and financials underlying the company information that would allow him to make an objective decision about his future role in the firm and no plan existed to manage the transition. Jack and Bob's personal relationship had grown estranged, and both prone to intense emotional responses to work and personal issues.

In addition, Betty felt that Jack did not accord her appropriate respect in her role as COO, and was therefore concerned about her professional future as COO under Jack's leadership; she was also anxious that any transition be smooth to enable her continued personal relationship with Bob, the owner. The emotionally-charged relationships between the three key players resulted in both personal and professional command-and-control