Google | Generative AI
Generated on July 24th, 2025
Critically acclaimed drama series “Six Feet Under” provides a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of neglecting succession planning in a family business.
“Six Feet Under” powerfully illustrates the challenges and complexities involved when a family business transitions leadership. It highlights the importance of addressing family dynamics, defining roles, and adopting a strategic and objective approach to ensure the long-term survival and success of the business.
The Fisher family’s funeral home, Fisher & Sons, becomes a case study in how emotional baggage, unresolved conflicts, and a lack of clear succession planning can hinder a business’s future, even with a strong foundation.
Here’s a breakdown of what “Six Feet Under” teaches us about family business succession planning:
1. The Importance of Open Communication and Addressing Family Dynamics:
- Emotional Baggage: The Fisher family’s history of unresolved trauma, grief, and resentment heavily influences their interactions and decision-making, impacting their ability to plan for the future of the business.
- Lack of Open Dialogue: The show demonstrates how unspoken resentments and unresolved conflicts within the family can fester and create significant obstacles in succession planning.
- Need for Emotional Maturity: The series underscores the need for family members to address their emotional baggage and communicate openly and honestly to navigate succession successfully.
2. The Challenges of Succession Planning in a Family Business:
- Defining Roles and Responsibilities: The Fisher sons struggle to define their roles within the business and often clash over decision-making, highlighting the need for clear job descriptions and agreed-upon leadership structures.
- The Emotional Weight of Legacy: The show explores the emotional burden of carrying on the family legacy and the pressure to live up to expectations, which can hinder objective decision-making about the business’s future.
- External Pressures: The series also touches on how family businesses can be vulnerable to external pressures from competitors and the changing market, further complicating succession planning.
3. The Need for a Strategic and Objective Approach:
- Beyond Family Ties: “Six Feet Under” implicitly argues that succession planning shouldn’t solely rely on family ties but should also consider the skills, experience, and suitability of potential successors, regardless of their familial relationship.
- Strategic Planning: The show emphasizes the need for a well-defined strategic plan that outlines the business’s goals, values, and future direction, providing a framework for succession.
- External Expertise: The series implicitly suggests that seeking external expertise, such as business consultants or advisors, can provide valuable guidance in navigating the complexities of family business succession.
4. The Impact of Death and Unexpected Events:
- The 5 Ds of Succession: The show underscores the importance of planning for unexpected events, such as death, disability, divorce, disagreement, and distress (the “5 Ds” of succession planning), as highlighted in succession planning resources.
- Contingency Planning: The series demonstrates the need for contingency plans to address unforeseen circumstances and ensure the business can continue to operate effectively, even in the face of adversity.
The show highlights the importance of open communication, clearly defined roles, and the need to address underlying family issues before they derail the business. While the series doesn’t offer concrete solutions, it provides a powerful illustration of the challenges and complexities involved in transitioning leadership within a family business.
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Google | Generative AI | Prompt: “what six feet under teaches us about family business succession planning”
