November 6-2025
By: Dhania Puspa
Global pandemics, geopolitical tensions, technological disruptions, and climate change have created an era of profound uncertainty. In this environment, many large corporations have fallen. Yet interestingly, many family businesses have not only survived — they have grown.
Why is that?
The answer lies in one key word: resilience.
Family businesses have a unique character — they are driven not only by profit but also by relationships, values, and long-term sustainability across generations. However, in a constantly changing world, these very values are being tested. Global challenges are not only putting financial pressure on businesses but also shaking the foundations of trust and harmony within families.
This article invites you to explore how family businesses in Indonesia — and around the world — can strengthen their resilience amid global uncertainty through adaptive leadership, honest communication, and smart cross-generational collaboration.
A Changing World: A Test for Family Businesses
According to the World Bank (2024), global economic growth is projected at only 2.4%, down from an average of 3.1% before the pandemic. Meanwhile, international economic uncertainty has risen by 20% over the past five years (Oxford Economics, 2024).
This situation has forced many companies to adjust their business models. Yet the PwC Global Family Business Survey 2023 found something striking:
70% of family business leaders remain optimistic about global challenges, and more than 65% have made resilience their top strategic priority.
This optimism is not unfounded. Family businesses typically possess a long-term vision and a more stable ownership structure, allowing them to remain patient and consistent during difficult times — unlike public companies that often face short-term pressure from shareholders.
However, resilience in family businesses does not happen automatically. It must be built, maintained, and renewed over time — especially in a world that keeps evolving rapidly.
Family Values as the Foundation of Resilience
Every family business carries a distinct DNA — a combination of values, beliefs, and stories passed down through generations. These elements set them apart from non-family enterprises.
Values such as honesty, hard work, loyalty, and togetherness often serve as the energy that binds the family together. Yet, in times of crisis, these values are put to the test:
- Can the family prioritize shared interests over personal egos?
- Can they maintain open communication when pressures come from both outside and within?
According to IMD Family Business Center (2023), family businesses that actively reinforce their core values have a 42% higher survival rate during major crises.
These values act as a moral anchor in turbulent times — providing direction even when the business landscape shifts dramatically.
The Generational Challenge: Bridging Tradition and Innovation
One of the greatest tests for family businesses in the global era lies in intergenerational differences.
Founders often emphasize stability, efficiency, and prudence, while next-generation leaders — raised in the digital era — value speed, innovation, and risk-taking.
When a crisis hits, these two mindsets may clash: the older generation wants to hold on to proven methods, while the younger seeks to experiment and innovate.
Yet this tension is also the source of the greatest opportunity. Families that can turn these differences into collaborative strengths are the ones that endure.
According to the Deloitte Family Business Report (2024), family firms with active cross-generational collaboration demonstrate 30% higher innovation and 25% faster recovery after economic crises than those managed by a single generation.
The key is not deciding who is right — but creating a dialogue space where both generations can learn and adapt together.
Family Governance: The Often-Ignored Pillar of Resilience
In many cases, family businesses do not fail because of the market — but because of internal conflict.
Differences in vision, personal interests, and emotional baggage from the past often fuel tension.
This is where family governance becomes essential.
Family governance is not just about formal structures — it’s about communication systems, role clarity, and transparent decision-making processes.
According to PwC (2023), only 23% of Southeast Asian family businesses have a formal family governance framework. Yet those that do tend to be 50% more stable during economic crises.
Clear governance prevents internal fractures and ensures every family member understands their role — both within the family and in the company.
Adaptive Leadership Amid Uncertainty
Global crises require leaders who are flexible, visionary, and empathetic.
Leadership in family businesses carries double complexity — it involves leading both the company and the family itself.
Adaptive family leaders exhibit three key traits:
- Clarity – The ability to communicate direction and priorities clearly.
- Empathy – Understanding the emotional pressures faced by family members and employees.
- Courage – The willingness to make difficult decisions without betraying core values.
For instance, Sukanto Tanoto (RGE Group) and Anthony Salim (Salim Group) are known not only for their business acumen but also for their capacity to sustain multi-generational continuity and adapt to global shifts.
Such leaders do more than keep the business alive — they nurture the collective spirit of the family to grow together.
Digital Transformation and Business Resilience
The global crisis has accelerated digitalization across all sectors.
For family businesses, this is not a passing trend but a strategic necessity.
The younger generation often brings digital innovation — in areas like e-commerce, data analytics, and AI. Yet many senior family members hesitate, fearing that technology may erode the human touch that defines their businesses.
In reality, balancing tradition and technology creates a new form of resilience.
The EY Family Enterprise Barometer (2024) found that 67% of family businesses that invested in digital technology during the pandemic now enjoy more stable profitability than those that did not.
Digital transformation doesn’t mean abandoning family values — it means expanding their reach to a wider world.
Emotions, Trust, and Psychological Resilience
Crises are not only financial — they are deeply emotional.
In family businesses, emotions run high because blood ties and business responsibilities overlap.
Under stress, feelings of blame, disappointment, or loss of direction can easily arise.
That’s why psychological resilience is critical.
According to KPMG (2023), family businesses with high internal trust recover 35% faster after major disruptions.
Trust is the emotional currency whose value exceeds financial capital.
Families built on trust can withstand any storm — because they know they are not walking alone.
Regeneration and Long-Term Vision
In uncertain times, succession is not an option — it’s a necessity.
Many family businesses fail not from poor strategy but from poor succession planning.
Only 30% survive to the second generation, and a mere 12% reach the third (Family Firm Institute, 2023).
Succession must be planned early — not just in terms of ownership but also leadership capability.
The next generation must be given room to learn, fail, and innovate — while the senior generation must provide guidance without domination.
The blend of wisdom and courage, experience and experimentation, is the formula for a long-term, sustainable vision.
Building a Resilient Family Business: Practical Strategies
Here are several actionable steps to strengthen family business resilience in times of global crisis:
- Strengthen family communication
Hold regular forums to discuss both business and personal relationships openly. - Establish clear family governance
Create a family council or constitution to minimize conflicts. - Diversify business and income sources
Avoid dependence on a single sector or market. - Develop next-generation capacity
Involve them in real projects — not merely symbolic roles. - Foster a continuous learning culture
Participate in training, coaching, and family business forums to stay updated. - Prioritize emotional well-being
Mental resilience is as vital as financial resilience. - Integrate technology and sustainability
Invest in digitalization and green innovation — these are no longer trends, but necessities.
Becoming a Family Business That Grows Through Crisis
Ultimately, resilience doesn’t mean never falling.
It means rising again — stronger and wiser.
Enduring family businesses are not necessarily the richest or the biggest, but those that preserve purpose and meaning amid change.
As the world continues to shift unpredictably, families united by a shared vision will always find their way.
Behind every business decision lies an invaluable human bond — trust, togetherness, and hope for a better future.
Build Your Family Business Resilience with Qando Qoaching
At Qando Qoaching, we believe that family business resilience begins with communication, awareness, and healthy leadership.
Through our Family Business training and coaching programs, we help families find the balance between traditional values and modern challenges, so the business not only survives — but grows with purpose.
Discover new ways to lead, adapt, and grow with your family.
Visit campsite.bio/qqgroup and follow Qando Qoaching on social media for updates, insights, and inspiration on building a resilient future — together.
