How do I stop being CEO when I sit down with my own kids?

Most founders slip back into founder mode without realizing it. Kris Kluver, in The Dysfunctional Family Office, calls this Founder Mode vs Father Mode. The same person can run a board meeting and lecture his own kid in the same hour, using the exact same tone, without seeing the difference. Founder mode is decisive, directive, and outcome-oriented. Father mode is curious, patient, and willing to ask before answering. The fix is structural. Notice when you've moved into founder mode with your kids and deliberately reset. Ask a question instead of giving the answer. Listen for ten seconds before responding. Don't wrap the conversation in a recommendation. Robert Mitchell catches himself doing this multiple times in the book. The catching is the entire skill.