The Power of Outside Perspective: Strengthening Family Farm Succession Planning
How neutral facilitation and expert advisors reduce conflict, clarify roles, and secure your farm’s legacy for generations
Good morning and welcome to a new season of Agri-Generations, your trusted resource for connecting generations and cultivating long-term success in agricultural family businesses.
For those who started following Generations in Agriculture, thank you for your support and engagement. For new subscribers, I am glad you are here. I’m excited to announce that as part of a fresh vision, we have rebranded to Agri-Generations. This newsletter is dedicated to helping agricultural families cultivate strong values, navigate generational transitions, and thrive in today’s evolving agricultural landscape.
Last week, we looked at succession planning as a living journey, from defining shared values to regularly updating the succession plan. This week, we are taking a look at a game-changing step: bringing in an outside perspective.
Why Neutral Facilitation Strengthens Succession Planning
When it comes to family business succession, one of the most overlooked resources is the power of an outside perspective. Too often, families assume succession is something they can and should manage on their own. But the truth is, involving a neutral facilitator or advisor can be the difference between a transition that fractures relationships and one that preserves both legacy and livelihood (Family Business Institute, 2023).
Why Invite an Outside Voice?
Family ties, while powerful, also bring inherent bias. Long-standing sibling rivalries, generational differences, or conflicting visions for the farm’s future can easily cloud judgment. Research from the Family Business Institute highlights that only about 30% of family businesses successfully transition to the second generation, with failure often attributed to poor communication and unresolved family conflict (Family Business Institute, 2023).
A neutral facilitator, advisor, or consultant provides the fresh set of eyes that families often lack. They ask the hard questions that family members might avoid, create a structured process for decision-making, and help keep the focus on both the farm and the family (Andersen LLP, 2023).
Succession planning isn’t just about the business; it’s about family. And in that mix, emotions, traditions, and long-standing dynamics can cloud even the clearest of decisions. Because succession planning includes aspects of the business, the family, and the emotions, traditions, and dynamics, it is a crucial piece to work with an advisor to navigate the ongoing process. Family business consultants, estate planning attorneys, and financial planners are key pieces to the puzzle of succession planning and bring value to creating a successful succession plan. These advisors are often trained and have experience in the succession planning space and bring new perspectives to the family and the business (Young Farmer Business Program, 2023; Nationwide, 2023).
Real Outcomes: When Families Engage, or Don’t
In the United Kingdom, succession facilitator Heather Wildman has becoming a leading voice in helping farm families navigate the emotional and practical layers of transition. Her work goes far beyond drafting legal documents or financial plans. Instead, she creates intentional space for families to explore what succession truly means, from identity and values, to debt and dreams (Farmers Weekly, 2023; Bathurst, 2024)..
Wildman facilitates both group and private sessions where every voice can be heard, including those who often feel overlooked, spouses, in-laws, or younger generations who are not yet decision-makers. By remaining neutral, she reduces defensiveness and diffuses the personal biases that can stall progress. Families report that this process often uncovers unspoken fears, clarifies mismatched expectations, and helps separate attachments from strategic decision-making (Farmers Weekly, 2023).
The outcomes of neutral facilitation can be transformative:
Clarity of Roles and Vision - Families leave sessions with a shared understanding of responsibilities and the long-term direction of the business.
Improved Communication - Structured discussions help relatives speak openly about difficult issues, leading to stronger relationships beyond the business.
Actionable Succession Plans - Rather than vague intentions, families develop concrete steps and timelines for leadership transition.
Reduced Conflict - By addressing tensions early, families mitigate the risk of disputes that can fracture both the farm operation and personal relationships (Bathurst, 2024; Farmers Weekly, 2023).
Wildman emphasizes that succession is not simply about who gets what but about aligning a family’s vision, culture, and financial health with the realities of generational change. In her words, the facilitator’s role is to “unlock conversations that would otherwise never happen” (Farmers Weekly, 2023).
What Can Go Wrong Without Help
Without an outside voice, succession often becomes mired in conflict. Families may default to assumptions: the oldest takes over; “we’ve always done it this way”; or worse, freeze in place and fall into crisis when change demands it (Andersen LLP, 2023).
A Realistic, Family-First Take
Hiring an outside advisor isn’t a sign you’re failing. It is a sign you care deeply about the future. Here’s how to approach it:
Choose someone trusted by the family - a counselor, ag extension specialist, or a seasoned farm advisor who understands both business and emotion.
Clarify their Role Upfront - are they a facilitator? Lawyer? Financial Advisor? Or all three?
Ensure they Integrate Well - find someone who connects legal, financial, and relational planning into a complete, flexible strategy (Young Farmer Business Program, 2023; Nationwide, 2023).
Final Takeaway
Succession planning is deeply personal, but it shouldn’t be done in isolation. By bringing in an outside perspective, you’re not surrendering control, you are strengthening it. Including an advisor ensures your family’s legacy is not only protected but positioned to adapt, grow, and thrive (Andersen LLP, 2023).
Cord Lee
Founder, Agri-Generations
Disclaimer: All content, communications, and resources provided by Generations in Agriculture, its principals, operators, or members is intended to merely be educational and entertaining. Nothing published by Generations in Agriculture should be relied on as legal, financial, investment, or other professional advice. Investments and legal matters involve substantial risk and are not suitable for all individuals. It is recommended to enter into a client relationship with an ESP for obtaining professional advice.
Sources:
Andersen LLP. (2023). Role of external advisors in succession planning: The benefits of involving external advisors in the succession planning process. https://ca.andersen.com/blog/role-of-external-advisors-in-succession-planning-the-benefits-of-involving-external-advisors-in-the-succession-planning-process
Bathurst, J. (2024, January 9). ‘Farming is a dirty word now’: The woman helping farmers navigate a grim, uncertain future. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/09/farming-is-a-dirty-word-now-the-woman-helping-farmers-navigate-a-grim-uncertain-future
Farmers Weekly. (2023, March 7). Succession planning: How to get the conversation started. https://www.fwi.co.uk
Family Business Institute. (2023). Succession planning statistics: Why most family businesses don’t survive beyond the second generation. https://www.familybusinessinstitute.com
Nationwide. (2023). Secure your farm’s legacy with proactive estate and succession planning. https://www.nationwide.com/farm-succession
Young Farmer Business Program (NSW). (2023). The role of advisors in succession planning. https://www.thefarminginsider.com/advisors-in-farm-succession