Why a Business Is Not a Family (And That’s a Good Thing)

A better metaphor for workplaces that care deeply and lead clearly.

I’ve said it too: “We’re a family”.

And I meant it, in the best possible way.

When you’ve built something from the ground up, when you’ve worked side by side through high seasons and hard ones, when you genuinely care about the people you work with, it’s easy to reach for that language. Family feels like the highest compliment.

But over time (and a few hard lessons), I’ve come to see the limits of that metaphor.

Because a business is not a family.

And that’s not cold. It’s actually a really good thing.

What “We’re a Family” Misses

Families are unconditional. Businesses aren’t, and shouldn’t be. When we lean too hard on the family narrative, it can blur important boundaries. It can suggest we owe each other loyalty, even when roles shift or values diverge. It can make performance feedback feel personal. It can make leaving feel like betrayal.

And it can quietly create an environment where people feel they can’t say no, can’t ask for more, or can’t walk away, because “we’re family.”

But business relationships are not unconditional. Nor should they be. The most respectful thing we can do is be clear, honest, and boundaried, in a way that honours both the people and the work.

A Better Model: The Safari Team

These days, I prefer a different metaphor, one rooted in the world I know best.

Think of a great safari team.

There’s the guide, the housekeeper, the chef, the camp manager. Everyone has a role. Everyone brings something different. And together, they create something extraordinary, not because they’re “family,” but because they are professionals with shared values, trust, and purpose.

They support one another. They take pride in their craft. They communicate clearly. And when someone moves on? There’s gratitude and respect, no guilt, no drama, no emotional debt.

Leading with Heart and Clarity

I now believe you can build workplaces that are human, warm, and connected, without blurring lines or compromising standards.

You can care about your team deeply.

You can be flexible, kind, and generous.

And you can also be honest, structured, and professional.

We don’t need to be a family to be extraordinary.

We just need to be a team, a really good one.