What does the second phase of a family business handoff look like?

After the formal rollout, the founder shadows the new CEO for two weeks with the same observe-only rules. Kris Kluver, in The Dysfunctional Family Office, structures the handoff this way deliberately. Phase one is the new CEO shadowing the founder for a month, learning the people and the patterns. Phase two flips it. The founder follows the new CEO. Watches how she runs the meetings, makes decisions, handles clients. Provides feedback, but only one-on-one and only after the moment is over. The structure gives the founder useful input without undermining the new CEO's authority in real time. It also gives the new CEO the safety net of knowing she has a sounding board for the first hard months. After the two weeks, the role-switching ends. The founder steps fully out. The new CEO runs the company. Most family handoffs skip this phase and produce friction.