| The Couple as an Entity: The Power of Treating the Couple as a Whole/Peter L. Sheras and Phyllis Koch-Sheras | |
| Couples and Infertility: Clinical, Intervention and Practice Development Issues/Laurie Kolt | |
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Working with Couples around Couples and Work/Jayne Speicher-Bocija |
| Jayne Speicher-Bocija, Ph.D. | Working with Couples around Couples and Work
The 1990’s saw extraordinary economic growth, continued corporate mergers and take-overs, and major organizational downsizing and restructuring. These forces created an environment in which many individuals made the decision to strike out on their own. Predictions for the next decade indicate continued growth in the number of self-employed. This presents an important niche population for which practitioners can develop a variety of services. Self-employed individuals and their spouses can often benefit from stress reducing psychological interventions. Notably, conflicts around work and marital relationships begin to develop in couples when individuals start their own home businesses, begin to work as independent contractors or grow small businesses into family enterprises. What follows is an identification of three select groups for which couples interventions can be particularly useful: spousal relationships of entrepreneurs, copreneurs and family businesses couples. First there will be a brief examination of the distinct concerns and similar issues for each group followed by a discussion of useful psychological interventions. Finally a resource list is offered for both the practitioner and clients. Spousal Relationships of Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs and their spouses may develop several areas of stress. This can arise out of the non-entrepreneur being the financial support for the couple or family while the business gets off the ground. It also can arise from the rigorous demands of time, attention and energy that developing a new business requires or the spouse’s lack of involvement and understanding of the business vision and goals for success. Psychologists can be helpful in working with these couples on three key areas:
Copreneurs The 1990’s saw the rise not only of self-employment, but also of couples engaged in business together. Frank and Sharan Barnett, authors of Working Together: Entrepreneurial Couples, coined the term copreneurs for this relationship. This group is frequently described as having a strong marital basis from which working together grew naturally. There are, however, significant pitfalls to be avoided. Stress producers for these couples include different management approaches and work styles, partner criticism and blame for business problems and poor listening skills. Again psychologists can provide both relationship enhancement and work performance enhancement services by focusing on the areas of:
Family Business Couples The number of family businesses in the United States is staggering, from the mom and pop pizza shop to multi-national corporations that are family-owned. Family businesses count for more than two-thirds of all U.S. companies and at least 40% of the U.S. gross domestic product. Multiple couples’ issues can also be addressed within these organizations. While a family systems or developmental approach is often the first step when offering services to a family business, couples’ work is also very beneficial. Some issues that create stress in family businesses and family business couples are the level of involvement spouse’s play in the business, the awareness of the business’s financial strength and direction, and succession choices and estate planning. Psychologists can play a pivotal role in directing family business couples to address needs and develop skills that promote:
Interventions John Gottman’s (1998,1993) work is a useful resource in couples issues of all three groups. Two areas that are directly applicable to these couples are the importance of male partners sharing power and allowing their wives to influence them, and the manner in which female partners start up a conflictual discussion. Gottman finds both of these behaviors are predictive of divorce. The business literature supports that individuals who are not open to influence in decision-making and those that approach conflict situations in a critical or negative manner are likely to experience interpersonal problems and business failure. Therefore psychologists can provide empirically validated interventions that not only serve the couple well, but also enhance their business. Another area highlighted by Gottman’s research is the necessity of soothing oneself or one’s partner in a conflictual discussion. Here again psychologists can provide benefit by teaching the skills needed to calm and relax oneself and set the conditions to calm and relax another. Given the emphasis on healthy conflict resolution by business advisors, clients would again receive a benefit both in business productivity and relationship harmony. Further, the importance of affectionate and positive interactions is strongly related to marital satisfaction and longevity. This ability to de-escalate conflict through humor, gentleness and affection may be developed in stressed couples or strengthened in adequately functioning couples to further develop strong conflict resolution skills and improve communication and sharing. Finally, working with couples on balance of home and work life should fit well within most psychologists’ service offerings. Work and life balance has become a major issue in the business literature and is an issue that resonates strongly with entrepreneurs. Focusing these clients on their values, needs and desire for family and work balance can assist them in setting priorities, managing time and establishing regular outlets for relaxation, creativity and family or couple social life. Summary The growth of self-employment in the 1990’s is expected to accelerate in the next decade making psychological services to this population particularly necessary. The advent of empirically derived interventions for couples allows psychologists to offer assistance that will strengthen marital relationships and have the added benefit of reducing the stress that entrepreneurship can bring to bear on marriages and families. Sharing the knowledge of conflict resolution, healthy communication and relaxation skills through seminars, workshops, groups and relationship enhancement sessions will have a positive impact on these individuals, their spouses and family members. Resources Barnett, F., & Barnett, S. (1988). Working together: Entrepreneurial couples. San Francisco: Ten Speed Press. Buchholz, B.B., Crane, M., & Nager, R.W. (1999). The family business answer book. Paramus, N.J.: Prentice Hall. Gersick, K.E., Davis, J.A., McCollom Hampton, M., & Lansberg, I. (1997). Generation to generation. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. Hoover, E.A., & Hoover, C.L. (1999). Getting along in family business. New York: Routledge. Jonovic, D.J. (1997). The ultimate legacy: How owners of family and closely held businesses can achieve their real purpose. Cleveland, OH: Jamieson. LeVan, G. (1999). The survival guide for business families. New York: Routledge. Nelton, S. (1986). How entrepreneurial couples are changing the rules of business and marriage. New York: Wiley. Roberts, L.M. (1997). How to raise a family and a career under one roof. Moon Township, PA: Brookhaven Press. References Gottman, J. M. (1993). A theory of marital dissolution and stability, Journal of Family Psychology, 7, 57-75. Gottman, J. M. (1998). Predicting marital happiness and stability from newlywed interactions, Journal of Marriage and the Family, 60, 5-22. Jayne Speicher-Bocija, Ph.D. is a post-doctoral psychology resident pursuing research and writing about work and family in Columbus, OH. She may be reached at (614) 299-6842 or by E-mail at jbocija@columbus.rr.com.
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