by Chris Reich | Mar 23, 2026 | Family Business, Partnership Advice, Partnership Disputes, Partnership Problems, Problem with Business Partner
I’ve found a common problem with communication when I’m conducting mediation meetings. People always think they know what the other party is thinking. They’ll say things like, “I know Bill won’t like this, but I think…” Opening your thoughts with that sort of lead in is going to put ‘Bill’ on edge before you even make your point. Never start by negatively setting the stage. So then, how should you start a conversation about a hard subject? In this post I’ll give you the 7 steps to conduct less tense and more fruitful meetings with your business partner.
by Chris Reich | Jan 19, 2026 | Business Disputes, Buyout Advice, Family Business, Partnership Advice, Partnership Agreement, Partnership Disputes, Partnership Problems
To be fair, many Operating Agreements have at least minimal language regarding a Partner’s voluntary exit from the Partnership. But, most of the time, those clauses are so vague they make the situation worse.
by Chris Reich | Jul 5, 2025 | Buyout Advice, Partnership Advice, Partnership Agreement, Partnership Disputes, Partnership Problems, Problem with Business Partner
Partnerships are much like romantic relationships. When it’s all new and exciting, we can easily become infatuated to the point of overlooking differences. After all, don’t the differences make the partnership stronger? Sometimes. Most often differences magnify with time and become triggers to arguments. As time goes by, the differences you ignored become important. What do you do when the differences break the partnership?
by Chris Reich | May 7, 2025 | Business Disputes, Buyout Advice, Partnership Advice, Partnership Disputes, Partnership Problems, Problem with Business Partner, Rants
Sometimes, in Partnership Mediations, people will dig into very irrational positions. And sometimes, when there is tension in a partnership, as a professional mediator, I can see an easy solution. When disputants won’t do simple things to protect their business, it makes me want to scream!
by Chris Reich | Sep 23, 2024 | Buyout Advice, Partnership Problems, Problem with Business Partner
My business partner and I can no longer work together. We’ve tried to talk about a buyout—I want to buy him out—but it always leads to an argument. Do you have any suggestions for conducting buyout talks that don’t turn into an argument? Read these tips to conduct Buyout negotiations without tension.
