57 - Succession Planning in Family Businesses: Learning to Let Go and Grow
Balancing Legacy and Growth: Insights from Ed Dolan of Epic Results on Building Stronger Family Businesses
In this episode of the Growing Up B2B Podcast, host Ed Delia sits down with Ed Dolan, CEO of Epic Results LLC, to unpack the intricate dynamics that define family-governed businesses. With decades of experience coaching thousands of entrepreneurs and receiving recognition for his impact on regional economic growth, Ed offers a rare perspective on how family business leaders can move from emotional reactivity to strategic clarity. The conversation highlights practical frameworks for accountability, succession planning, and building a legacy that thrives beyond the founder’s generation.
Turning Family Complexity into Strategic Clarity
Ed Dolan believes the strength of a family business lies not in avoiding emotion—but in structuring it. He explains that family enterprises often face unique emotional intensity that can cloud decisions or create lingering conflict. The key, he says, is developing communication systems and governance frameworks that separate personal dynamics from professional performance. When emotions are addressed rather than ignored, trust deepens and accountability becomes a shared value rather than a source of tension.
At the heart of breakthrough growth is structure. Ed encourages family leaders to clearly define roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines—even when titles are shared across generations. By establishing formal governance through advisory boards and measurable performance systems, family businesses can transition from reactive management to disciplined leadership. He also cautions against confusing ownership with operational authority: some of the healthiest businesses, he notes, are those where family ownership is paired with professional, external management.
Succession planning is another recurring theme. For many founders, letting go is emotionally challenging, while next-generation leaders often face the pressure of living up to a legacy. Ed’s approach is pragmatic—create a gradual transition plan that allows controlled failure, external mentorship, and clear accountability. When the next generation earns its authority, not inherits it, the family business evolves from a legacy brand into a future-focused enterprise.
About Ed Dolan
Ed Dolan is the CEO of Epic Results LLC, where he helps business owners achieve sustainable performance through strategy, structure, and leadership development. Drawing from his experience working with more than 2,000 entrepreneurs, Ed specializes in helping family-owned companies build governance systems, strengthen leadership teams, and scale with confidence. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
About Epic Results LLC
Epic Results LLC is a business consulting firm that empowers companies to overcome growth barriers and unlock their full potential. The firm partners with business owners and leadership teams to implement proven processes that drive clarity, accountability, and long-term profitability. By aligning people, purpose, and performance, Epic Results helps organizations achieve measurable and lasting impact.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
Key Episode Highlights
How emotional awareness strengthens, not weakens, family business leadership
Why accountability and structure are essential to long-term growth
Best practices for succession planning and founder transitions
The role of external advisors and peer networks in sustaining objectivity
How separating ownership and management protects both legacy and performance
Conclusion
In this Growing Up B2B episode, Ed Dolan reveals that successful family businesses are not built on tradition alone—they’re sustained by structure, communication, and emotional intelligence. When families embrace transparency and accountability, they transform potential conflict into clarity, allowing both business and legacy to flourish across generations.
Explore Ed Delia’s website to learn more about leadership strategies for family businesses and B2B growth. If you’re a B2B leader with insights to share, apply to be a guest on the Growing Up B2B Podcast here.
