--- title: Strategic Thinking | Family Business description: Family Business | Thoughts from Alembic Strategy on profit, growth, strategy and performance --- [![Alembicstrategy](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/logo.png?width=218&height=76&name=logo.png "Alembicstrategy")](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/) # Strategic Thinking ![Alembic-Resized-Max](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic-Resized-Max.jpg?width=2420&height=692&name=Alembic-Resized-Max.jpg) # Strategic Thinking - - [![How Often Do You Ask Yourself This?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/vitaly-gariev-pBJDpxw8Ptk-unsplash.jpg?width=142&name=vitaly-gariev-pBJDpxw8Ptk-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/how-often-do-you-ask-yourself-this) ## [How Often Do You Ask Yourself This?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/how-often-do-you-ask-yourself-this) Emotions are the language of the body. Just like heartbeats and the gentle sound of your breathing, emotions are information, ready to be [![Alembic Strategy](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_eOSubHE3g7r6uZ7QB_SAUw.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/alembic-strategy) [Alembic Strategy](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/alembic-strategy) [![Alembic Strategy](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_eOSubHE3g7r6uZ7QB_SAUw.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/alembic-strategy) [Alembic Strategy](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/alembic-strategy) [Alembic Strategy](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/alembic-strategy) [![Alembic Strategy](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_eOSubHE3g7r6uZ7QB_SAUw.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/alembic-strategy) Apr 17, 2026 [![The Informality of the Family](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TheInformalityoftheFamily_ShaneRounce.jpg?width=142&name=TheInformalityoftheFamily_ShaneRounce.jpg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/the-informality-of-the-family) ## [The Informality of the Family](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/the-informality-of-the-family) Get in touch: nick.mayhew@alembicstrategy.com. At Alembic, we are a family business. I (Jess) work for my Dad (Nick) and my Mum (Sarah) founded the [![Jess Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(37)-1.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/jess-mayhew) [Jess Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/jess-mayhew) [![Jess Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(37)-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/jess-mayhew) [Jess Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/jess-mayhew) [Jess Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/jess-mayhew) [![Jess Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(37)-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/jess-mayhew) Aug 4, 2023 [![Paradox and Polarity - Conflict in Family Business](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ParadoxandPolarity2.jpeg?width=142&name=ParadoxandPolarity2.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/paradox-and-polarity-conflict-in-family-business) ## [Paradox and Polarity - Conflict in Family Business](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/paradox-and-polarity-conflict-in-family-business) Contact me at: nick.mayhew@alembicstrategy.com Far from the hoped-for flourishing of family relationships, with members happily working together, [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Aug 4, 2023 [![To Connect or Not to Connect? That Is the Question. Part Three: The Language of Boundaries – Moving Into New Experiences](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Part%203.jpg?width=142&name=Part%203.jpg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/the-language-of-boundaries-moving-into-new-experiences) ## [To Connect or Not to Connect? That Is the Question. Part Three: The Language of Boundaries – Moving Into New Experiences](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/the-language-of-boundaries-moving-into-new-experiences) This article follows on from my previous piece on boundaries, which you can read here if you missed it. How high do the stakes feel for you when you [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) Jul 6, 2022 [![To Connect or Not to Connect? That Is the Question. Part Two: Experiencing Relational Boundaries](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Part%202.jpg?width=142&name=Part%202.jpg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/experiencing-relational-boundaries) ## [To Connect or Not to Connect? That Is the Question. Part Two: Experiencing Relational Boundaries](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/experiencing-relational-boundaries) In my first article on boundaries, I introduced the fundamentals of connecting and separating at both a cellular level and as a whole person. In this [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) Jun 29, 2022 [![To Connect or Not to Connect? That Is the Question. Part One: The Biology of Boundaries](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Part%201.jpg?width=142&name=Part%201.jpg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/the-biology-of-boundaries) ## [To Connect or Not to Connect? That Is the Question. Part One: The Biology of Boundaries](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/the-biology-of-boundaries) We are multi-trillion cellular beings. You have 100 billion nerve cells in your brain, each one with the ability to make up to 10,000 connections [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) Jun 22, 2022 [![Transformation Education](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bannon-morrissy-G4DIWtKztRg-unsplash.jpg?width=142&name=bannon-morrissy-G4DIWtKztRg-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/transformation-education) ## [Transformation Education](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/transformation-education) There is a phenomenon – an obscure sorrow – called sonder. It is the realisation that every person, each random passer-by, is living a life as [![Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Ben%20website%20image-3.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) [Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) Trainee Strategy Facilitator [![Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Ben%20website%20image-3.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) [Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) [Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) Trainee Strategy Facilitator [![Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Ben%20website%20image-3.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) May 11, 2022 [![Achieving Resolution](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image-Mar-04-2022-01-52-07-78-PM.png?width=142&name=MicrosoftTeams-image-Mar-04-2022-01-52-07-78-PM.png) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/achieving-resolution) ## [Achieving Resolution](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/achieving-resolution) We began the year with an article on finding out what is at the heart of commitment. We are apt to make wishes at the start of the year in the form [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) [![Sarah Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Sarah-2-1.png)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/sarah-mayhew) Mar 30, 2022 [![Putting ESG on the Strategic Agenda](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/campaign-creators-gMsnXqILjp4-unsplash-jpg-1.jpeg?width=142&name=campaign-creators-gMsnXqILjp4-unsplash-jpg-1.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/putting-esg-on-the-strategic-agenda) ## [Putting ESG on the Strategic Agenda](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/putting-esg-on-the-strategic-agenda) Get in touch: nick.mayhew@alembicstrategy.com First thing’s first, what is ESG? ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. Environmental, [![Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Ben%20website%20image-3.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) [Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) Trainee Strategy Facilitator [![Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Ben%20website%20image-3.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) [Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) [Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) Trainee Strategy Facilitator [![Ben Grant](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Ben%20website%20image-3.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/ben-grant) Jul 6, 2021 [![Tips for Handling Difficult Conversations](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blob.jpeg?width=142&name=blob.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tips-for-handling-difficult-conversations) ## [Tips for Handling Difficult Conversations](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tips-for-handling-difficult-conversations) Get in touch: nick.mayhew@alembicstrategy.com Life as a leader inevitably means you're going to encounter hard conversations. You might be great at [![Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/Roseanna%20cropped%20photo-1-1.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) [Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) Strategy Facilitator and Client Manager at Alembic Strategy [![Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/Roseanna%20cropped%20photo-1-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) [Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) [Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) Strategy Facilitator and Client Manager at Alembic Strategy [![Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/Roseanna%20cropped%20photo-1-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) Apr 23, 2020 [All posts](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/all) [Next](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/family-business/page/2) ### ELSEWHERE - [mailto:info@alembicstrategy.com](mailto:info@alembicstrategy.com) - - ### Links [Why Alembic?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/why-alembic) [Resources](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/resources) [People](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/our-people) [Contact Us](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/contact-us) ### Connect ### Our Partners [![FBU Logo](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FBU%20Logo-RED-01.png?width=596&name=FBU%20Logo-RED-01.png "FBU Logo")](https://www.familybusinessunited.com/) [![Mindshop Logo](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202023-07-03%20at%2017.03.08-1.png?width=3196&name=Screenshot%202023-07-03%20at%2017.03.08-1.png "Mindshop Logo")](https://web.mindshop.com/) ### Site credentials Copyright © Alembic Strategy Ltd. 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