Unlocking Foreclosed Beliefs: An Autoethnographic Story about a Family Business Leadership Dilemma

Abstract

Autoethnographers research how self interacts with culture. In what ways do a person and culture intersect and at what consequence? Autoethnographers explore these questions using their own experience to reflect on self‐other interactions and the greater cultural meaning. In this autoethnographic story, the first author reflects on dilemmas he experienced when considering whether or not to succeed his father as president of his family’s business. He reports his journey through this process in the context of a professional helping relationship. An ‘executive counselor’ was engaged to explore issues of career foreclosure, motivation, and leadership dilemmas as they came into conflict with self‐expectations and ‘overriding goals’. This story provides insight into some dimensions of an executive counseling relationship, explores themes relevant to family business succession, and addresses some consequences of career foreclosure and ways an executive counselor might help a client break out of the foreclosed state.

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