for the workplace in advance so there can be no awkward situations or misunderstandings down the road. Decide as a team to keep personal issues outside of the workplace. Should any personal matters arise, commit to resolving them on personal time, not company time. And finally, plan to keep everyone focused on business objectives and dedicate all efforts to keep work and home as separate as possible. Communication should be a top priority Communication is key in any healthy relationship, and this is particularly true for family members who work together. Misunderstandings can occur when individual responsibilities are not clearly established and comprehended. Define everyone's unique roles before work begins so each team member knows exactly what his or her part is in the day to day operations. How you speak to each other is equally important. Many family members interact on the job as they would at home, but this is not the best choice and can lead to a sloppy environment. Keep your words and tone as professional as you can at all times. Again, make sure everyone understands and abides by this guideline. Separate work and home It will be challenging, especially at the beginning, but it's important to keep personal feelings and business goals separate. For example, loving your family member and assuming they can do no wrong may work at home, but it will not help move the business forward, and may even cause conflict with some of the other employees who are not relatives.