When does family business succession really begin?

The truth – Long before the handover.

Most people think succession starts the day the next generation takes charge. But what if the real work began much earlier?

That was the question at the heart of the recent Yi Coimbatore X-Factor session in Coimbatore, led by M Hariharan, CFI Coach & Executive Director – Coach Competence Development. The room brought together entrepreneurs, family-business leaders and next-generation successors, the very people living this transition.

Drawing on real-life cases, Hariharan looked at succession from both sides of the table:

• The next generation, working to find its own leadership identity
• The older generation, learning to move from control to trust

The session showed how succession is never just a family matter. As roles and relationships shift, the effects ripple through the entire organisation.

The message was clear: succession isn’t a single moment. It’s a journey both generations need to start together, and early.