Trust is a key foundational element in families and FBs and it can be nurtured via good communication and conflict resolution habits. A family council will not deliver its full potential if participants are reluctant to broach difficult conversations and the existence of the council provides more opportunity for conversation. A FB board where directors know that they are not getting at the real issues is a frustrating experience and it may be the only safe and neutral space in which those issues may be addressed. My easiest engagements are those in which the family already holds frequent meetings and honest discussions. My most gratifying engagements are those where family leaders and members buy into the development of better communication skills. Businesses thrive, or so they believe, on nailing down the hard issues of strategy and finance. FBs will not achieve the success for which they work so hard unless they are prepared to venture onto the soft side. Communication is a cornerstone of FBs and one of the clappers of the bell that sounds for good governance.