Why Partnerships Fail…And what we can do to prevent it
5 questions to ask yourself before your partnership is tanking
As I mentioned previously, most business partnerships struggle and eventually fail for a variety of preventable reasons. I mentioned last time that one reason partnerships fail is that they have no clear reason for business beyond making money. [click link here to read]
My response to that challenge was to have the partnership align its goals and ambitions with mutually held values and a means of giving back. This is the touchy-feely part of worklife that makes us feel good about who we are and what we do.
Here is the second reason why partnerships tank: your work culture is stuck in the past. Not only does the decor look piecemealed from Craigslist, but the leadership style is an equally outdated command and control hierarchy that gets off on telling instead of showing, talking instead of listening.
When we allow cliques, tolerate individuals who bring others down because of their bad attitudes and provide no clear path for development – our people will feel unfulfilled, used, and leave once they see a better opportunity elsewhere.
Your partnership has to become intentional about creating and developing a culture that reflects your Ethos. Do you believe in developing others? Provide courses, books, and trips necessary to make it happen. Do you like it when someone acknowledges something good in you? If you aren’t good at telling others they are doing great work when they’ve earned it, you are in the dark ages. That paradigm sailed in the 80’s.
Punch line? You don’t need ping pong tables and espresso machines with Swedish massage on-site to be a great company to work for. But here is the litmus test to loyalty and a great culture: your employees would support you without question in public, yet feel COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE to challenge you in private in a respectful tone.
Want to do a quick Culture Test on your company?
Email me Joel@ThePerformanceGroup.us
In the subject line write, “Culture Test”.
This is part two of a five-part series taken directly from
“The Rewired Group – Coaching Experience“.