We went back and forth for what seemed like half of a day; half of a good day arguing over who was wrong and who was in the right, quarrelling over who was doing the bulk of the work versus who was lagging. It was a test of our friendship at the highest level; because during this heated conversation there were no direct attack on the other persons abilities, nor did the other’s personal life become an issue to be debated. Yes, we both made valid points; though in the moment and the subsequent days that followed, it was hard for us to admit it to each other that we were growing and bonding over passion for the business and its activities, in the heat of the moment we werecreating a more defined understanding of what we required from each other and what we had to adjust moving forward to work better as a team.
When we had decided to join efforts to advance Tiomanta, we had a clear understanding of the strengths and the capabilities that the other person possessed, we knew that we would pull from each other’s resources and know how, we also knew thatthere would be times that we would need to be each other’steacher. We understood that partners do not always see things in the same light, we trusted that the differences would work in our favor to create a wholesome company that served our clients best interest. The truth is, no matter how much we assume going into partnerships, we are never fully aware of the downside until you begin to operate. There is a certain level of risk that youundertake when you enter a partnership and they are not always financial. When you create a business off the back of friendship there are more risk of failure; especially when there is no clearoutline of what is expected of each other. A lot of failed partnerships stems from an undefined job description or an uneven and unrealistic expectation of your partner and your risk of loss is doubled.
Yet, having healthy disagreements is crucial for businesses. No two person are the same, no matter the similarities that exist there will come a time when one says yes and the other says no, when one believes that white is better than black, and this is when the true test of character will begin. Understanding that no one will be wrong or right but learning to take from each person’s good idea to form an incredibly great solution for your client. Partnership are not about stroking egos and playing nice to stay in good graces, it is the understanding that were you are weak, I am strong. It is about building, not just the business, but each other, it is about forcing the other person to realize and to fulfill their potential; no one goes into business with someone unless you see that person’s ability to help the business to function on a greater level that if you did it on your own, and no matter the differences, persons choose people they know will understand what the end goal is at the end of the disagreements.
So, based on our experiences so far, here are some niche to partnerships that we have established:
• Choose the right partner for the job; not just the person who possesses business acumen but one who also displays good character
•Be sure that the things you have in common are tantamountto the contrasts; making decisions demands a viewpointfrom opposite ends of the situation
•Creating a clear outline of what is expected from each partner; assigning clear roles is significant
•Make sure the person is possessing autonomy to carry out their role
•Make sure that the goal of the business is shared
•Remember, also that partnerships mean helping hands when the other person starts to loose their grip
These may not apply to all business models, and to all individuals, growing in business will help you find your own niches and what works best for you. Partnerships are not all horror stories; ultimately all business rely on other persons abilities to function.
Tiomanta will help you create that balance.