The Power Map: tap into the potential of family human capital
For the 35th issue of The International Family Offices Journal, Managing Director Betsy Erickson partnered with author David Werdiger to provide a tool designed to help advisers guide ultra-high-net-worth families in maximizing collaboration and collective impact.
In today’s increasingly complex family ecosystems, power dynamics can be the unseen force that drives or derails long-term success. Navigating generational transitions, rising complexity, and global visibility requires families to take a more expansive and intentional view of power. True influence doesn’t come solely from formal titles or control of assets, as it also resides in who sets the culture, holds key information, demonstrates expertise, or chooses to walk away. Recognizing these dimensions helps families move from unconscious habits to clear, strategic choices that sustain wealth, purpose, and connection.
Advisors and consultants are uniquely positioned to help families unlock untapped potential by mapping power sources across members and rebalancing where necessary. Whether it’s giving voice to the next generation, sharing decision-making authority, or shifting outdated structures, these strategic moves create more resilient, mission-driven families. With the right tools and mindset, families can use power not as a hierarchy to protect, but as a resource to share, therefore fueling collaboration, strengthening legacy, and multiplying their impact across generations.
Read the full report in the March 2025 issue of the International Family Offices Journal.