A kingÕs time as a ruler rises and sets like the sun. Remember who you are.
The words could be advice from a family business owner to a son or daughter. In this case, it is a lion speaking to his cub. DisneyÕs The Lion King is straight from the annals of family business, reflecting the poignancy of cycles of generational change and the turmoil of succession.
For readers who havenÕt seen the popular film, it begins with the birth of Simba to Mufasa, King of Pride Rock. Simba is proudly presented to the kingdom as successor to the throne. His uncle Scar, however, does not share the kingdomÕs joy, as this infant ÒhairballÓ is the barrier to his own accession. Scar plots with the enemy hyenas to destroy both Mufasa and Simba, and to take the crown for himself.
All of the passions that can complicate transitions in family business leadership are here: the jealousy of a brother who isnÕt anointed as leader; the grief and fear of the future in the wake of a parentÕs death; a young scionÕs struggle to separate from family and become his own man; and finally his rightful passage to the CEOÕs job when Òit is time.Ó
For those who havenÕt seen the film, let me share some of the lessons that I, as a family business consultant, saw in it.
Wrong end of the gene pool
Scar describes himself as the brother with the brains, while he says Mufasa, the Lion King, inherited brawn. ÒWhen it comes to brute strength, I was at the shallow end of the gene pool,Ó Scar laments. Implicit in ScarÕs resentment, however, is envy of his brotherÕs privileges. The oldest male gets everything, whether or not heÕs the best choice for the job.
In many family businesses, the ancient rule of primogeniture still gives an edge to eldest sons. It discourages so-called later-borns and daughters who might become able leaders. Although brains alone may not be the most important qualification for a leaderÑMufasa was not only brawny but virtuous and loved by his subjectsÑbeing the first-born is no guarantee that a successor will have any of these qualifications.
By developing a clear picture of the leadership needs of the business and the family, owners can select the best qualified person to serve those needs, regardless of gender or place in the birth order.
CanÕt wait to be King
One song sung by Simba, "I Just CanÕt Wait to be King", reflects the buoyancy and hope of the would-be successor. The same buoyancy inclines the young toward risk-taking, as when Simba investigates the scary elephant burial ground despite his fatherÕs warnings of the dangers there. The cub is attacked by hyenas who are ScarÕs henchman, and he has to be rescued by Mufasa. Afterward, Simba has gained some humility, and seeks reassurance that his father will always be there to support him. Mufasa then shares with Simba some of the philosophy passed to him by his own father: ÒSon, I may not always be here for you, but if you look in the [night] sky at those sparkling lights, you will see me. My father said that when kings die, they pass on and become the stars in the sky.Ó
MufasaÕs words illustrate the importance of tradition, shared beliefs, and legacy, which characterize families that stay positively connected and continue to work together productively.
Hakuna Matata
Adolescents go through a difficult time when they want to be grown up and yet fear the responsibility of adulthood. After Mufasa is killed in a stampede of wildebeests (set off by the hyenas), Scar convinces the cub that he is responsible for his fatherÕs death. With adulthood prematurely thrust upon him, the young heir to the throne runs away to the jungle. Despondent, he has temporarily given up on becoming an adult when he is adopted by a new Òpeer group,Ó a warthog and a meercat, who celebrate a new philosophy. Together, they sing "Hakuna Matata"Ñmeaning, Òno worries.Ó
While enjoying the freedom of life in the jungle, however, the cub is maturing into a lion with a mane and struggles with the need to become his own person. At the peak of his crisis, he has an illumination: He realizes he is no longer either a reflection of his Dad or the failure that his uncle has tried to portray him as. When his father suddenly appears to him like the ghost in Hamlet, Simba roars at him, ÒYou said youÕd always be there for me, but youÕre not!Ó Thus, in one magical moment, the young lion completes the process of mourning and achieves the separation and individuation that is so essential to growing up.
When young adults are thrust into the family business before establishing their own identity and competence elsewhere, they often run into problems. First, they may find it difficult to gain a sense of their own worth and an appreciation of what they have to offer as competent professionals. Second, they may react against whatever Mom and Dad ask them to do in the business as unwanted parenting rather than appropriate managerial guidance. Time spent in anotherÕs company not only gives potential successors needed experience but yields a clearer perspective on the range of behaviors found in all businesses. That may foster a greater appreciation of their own parentsÕ capabilities.
Rafiki, the consultant
Feeling like a failure, and certainly not like the lion his father was, Simba was reluctant to face up to the challenge of succession before his flight into the jungle. The one who leads the cub on his uncomfortable journey of self-discovery is Rafiki the baboon, who had been his fatherÕs trusted advisor. Rafiki searches for and finds Simba in the jungle. Like a Zen master, he clobbers Simba on the head once with his cane to wake him up to his responsibilities. Under RafikiÕs guidance, the young lion has the vision of his father and hears MufasaÕs admonition: ÒYou are more than what you have become...Remember who you are.Ó As Simba gathers strength to return to his kingdom, he says to Rafiki, ÒIt looks like the winds are changing.Ó Rafiki, sounding very much like the quintessential family business consultant, replies, ÒAh, change is good.Ó And Simba adds: ÒYeah, but itÕs hard.Ó
The roadblocks to successful change in a family business are often the family membersÕ unresolved personal and developmental issues. Consultants are often called upon to assist in coaching the members in order to facilitate growth and exploring new paths through Òthe jungleÓ of family conflict.
Zazu on management styles
Zazu, the bird who is described as MufasaÕs Òmajor domo,Ó is akin to a faithful nonfamily employee. The bird comments on the different management styles he has seen on the throne during his tenure: the tyranny of Scar and the nurturance and empowerment of Mufasa.
Zazu is an outsider who clearly has some insight into the conflicts in the royal family but is not taken seriously by them. Were his views ever considered by the family? Was he not taken seriously because he didnÕt state his positions forcefully enough or take strong action? Was he inarticulate, or did the family members simply not listen to him.
Often managers in family businesses who do not share the ownerÕs last name feel disenfranchised. Listening well to key employees and assuring them they are secure in their positions can be critical to the long-term health of a family business.
Leadership and vision
ÒWeÕre talking king and succession,Ó says Scar at one point when trying to rally his flippant hyena allies and get them to be serious. Sharing with them the vision for the kingdom that he would carry out if he became king, Scar says, ÒStick with me and youÕll never go hungry.Ó He makes a compelling case why each of them should join him in the plot to destroy Mufasa and Simba. He also shares a guiding principle: ÒBe prepared,Ó urging the hyenas to pounce upon any opportunity to implement the leaderÕs plan.
ScarÕs intentions may be destructive, but he displays a number of the qualities of successful leadership: State a clear vision, invite individuals to participate in that vision, and show them what their roles will be in accomplishing it; give them principles to guide them in their work. However, ScarÕs lack of integrity Ñand his failure to deliver on his promises to his hyena followersÑcatch up with him and they eventually destroy him.
Celebration and renewal
The journey to succession doesnÕt always follow the timetable that either the senior or junior generations expect. Typically, it is not as fast as the younger generation hopes, or as smooth as the older might like. Sometimes it requires an interim manager while members of the younger generation mature. But when the time comesÑas it does in The Lion KingÑit is cause for a celebration of the renewal that the transition represents.
Simba replaces the usurper Scar on the throne and the kingdomÕs desiccated savannah once again begins to bloom. To emphasize renewal, the son born to Simba and his queen, Nala, is anointed as the next king by Rafiki. Continuity is thus assured. The wisdom passed down to Mufasa is now safely in SimbaÕs hands. Strains of the filmÕs theme song, "The Circle of Life", return to Pride Rock, bringing the film to a triumphant end.
Rituals are important and often neglected in our fast-paced, task-oriented world. Yet rituals such as the company dinner announcing the retirement and succession help to mark lifeÕs transitions and assist the participants in making the psychological adjustments necessary during a change in leadership and power.
Some may say the lessons from The Lion King represent pretty conventional wisdom. I say the movie offers thoughtful people who work in family businesses the opportunity to reflect on their own transitions. If nothing else, itÕs a wonderful conversation-starter for any family engaged in succession planning.
Leslie Dashew is president of the Human Side of Enterprise in Atlanta, consultants to family businesses. Her training is in organizational development and family systems therapy.