Am I actually showing up open and curious or hoping clarity will appear without discomfort?

Most founders hope. Few actually show up open. Kris Kluver, in The Dysfunctional Family Office, asks founders to test this directly. Are you showing up to family conversations open and curious, or are you hoping clarity will appear without you doing the uncomfortable work that produces it. The difference shows up in body language, tone, and the quality of questions you ask. Open and curious leads with questions and listens for the answers. Hoping clarity will appear leads with statements and listens for confirmation. The second mode produces no real progress and frustrates everyone in the room. The fix is to notice which mode you're in and deliberately choose the harder one. Open and curious is uncomfortable on purpose. The discomfort is where the family work happens.