Conference highlights importance of compassionate leadership in driving successful Irish family businesses
The DCU National Centre for Family Business 2021 annual conference, Compassionate Leadership driving Successful Irish Family Businesses, took place last week. The event brought together a host of Irish leaders in the family business arena.
Organised in partnership with AIB, this virtual conference delved into the importance and benefits of nurturing a compassionate and empathetic culture in creating solid foundations for the future of family businesses.
The theme of the conference was based on research carried out by the Centre and led by Dr Catherine Faherty from DCU Business School, who found that family businesses who foster a compassionate and empathetic culture, and demonstrate a genuine concern for the treatment and well-being of their employees, fare better during in times of crisis and beyond.
With serial entrepreneur Gavin Duffy as MC, attendees heard interviews with JP Sisk and Stephen Bowcott of John Sisk & Son, who shared details of the Sisk Wellness Programme established to improve the wellbeing of their own staff.
It has been well documented that workers in the construction sector suffer more than average with their mental health. Showcasing the day’s theme of compassionate leadership, SISK have implemented a full mental and physical wellbeing programme for their staff, while ensuring financial stability, a leading cause of stress and anxiety. Remarking on its progress, Stephen Bowcott said: “It’s small steps, it’s a long journey, but it’s well on its way”.
The event also featured an interview with Flora Crowe, managing director of Crowe Supermarkets, who spoke about leading her own teams throughout Covid-19. Flora provided a real insight into leading a family firm, what it takes to be a compassionate leader, and how to remain level-headed in the face of adversity. Commenting on the variety of challenges people faced: “There’s no point forcing staff to come to work to be unhappy, you have to work with them”.
These interviews were followed with a panel discussion on the topic featuring Dr Eric Clinton (Director of NCFB), Flora Crowe (MD Crowe Supermarkets), JP Sisk (Senior Executive, Sisk Group), Paul Hennessy (NCFB Advisory Board), Dr Catherine Faherty (DCU Business School) and John Brennan (Head of SME, AIB).