Running a business with a partner can have its ups and downs. It’s great to be able to have two frames of reference when making big decisions, but business partners will undoubtedly disagree from time to time, and if you’re not careful the relationship as a whole can self-destruct and lead to major issues within a business. If you’re currently dealing with conflict with your business partner, you likely could benefit from working with a business coach with experience in helping partners identify and learn from disagreements. Alice Pallum of AMP Business Coaching is well versed in working with all different types of business owners and personalities and would be happy to help you navigate tough conversations with your partner.
Tips to Improve Business Partner Dynamics
Below are just a few tips that can go a long way towards improving the relationship between you and your partner:
1. Set measurable goals – It is important in any business to set measurable goals. This is especially true where partners are involved who fulfill different roles and duties. By setting key metrics you can determine where a partner may be falling short so that these issues can be addressed with actual data.
2. Take responsibility for mistakes – We all make mistakes in business and it’s important that if a mistake has been made that you take full responsibility. Rather than jumping on the defensive, simply identify the mistake and focus on learning from it.
3. Be compassionate – Whether you are in the wrong or not, it’s best to be compassionate towards your business partner. Think back to better times when you first started your business and think about your partner as an actual person. Would you want to be treated in the way you’re treating your partner? If not, it’s probably time to show some compassion.
4. Avoid verbal attacks – Nothing is gained by verbally attacking anyone, especially someone who you’ve built a business with over a long period of time. If you’re frustrated with a certain decision or event, simply take some time to cool down and start a conversation from a place of compassion as opposed to rage.
Improve Your Business Partner Relationship With Help From a Business Coach
If you feel like you’re at an impasse with your business partner, or if you’re just looking for ways to improve your business relationship, a business coach like Alice Pallum can help. Feel free to give her a call or text today at (612) 799-3991 to setup a time to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation where you can determine if working together is a good fit.