The Goal: Fix Your Partnership Problems OR Help You Get Out
If partners won't talk, it becomes impossible to work things out. At that point, buyout might be the only option.
You'll get the changes you want in your partnership and:
- You'll Save a Ton of Money
- You'll Get Change FAST
- You'll Have Immediate Stress Reduction
- You'll Get Your Dreams Back
Act While There is Time. Cut your stress for 2019.
Recent Posts by Chris
How a Mediator Can Help Your Family Business
As Moderator to many family businesses, I have helped with succession planning, compensation planning, and resolving of key questions around the operation of the enterprise. It can be difficult for an adult offspring to talk with Dad about a raise.
What Makes a Contract Legal and Binding?
As you see, a contract can be legal yet not binding. And, the most important take away is that a promise, even if written up and signed, is not binding. If an agreement is not binding, it isn’t enforceable. I assume you want your agreements between you and your partner(s) to be legal, binding, and enforceable. Let’s look at the pieces that must be included to make a valid, binding contract.
The Best Tool for Successful Negotiation
Before I give you the secret to easier and successful negotiation, let me explain a few things that don’t work. In fact, these will work against you. From years of watching people negotiate buying or selling, trying to change processes, or reaching general agreement, I have seen what works and what doesn’t when partners are negotiating with each other.
Problems in the Partnership? Fix the Communication
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.
Message from Chris
"The only time a partnership issue cannot be resolved is when the tension gets so bad that neither party will talk to each other. When you reach that point, it's pretty hard to start a meaningful dialogue. On the positive side, no matter how tense the partnership, if partners are talking things can be worked out"
I Help Fix Partnership Problems
Yes, sometimes my work is stressful. It's also very rewarding when I hear those magic words, "yes, I can agree to that." That's the instant everything starts to get better. When I help work out a partnership problem, I try to take the friction away so that we can have calm and productive discussions. You would be amazed at how much can be accomplished in a short time once the emotions are out of the way and we can focus on specific ways to eliminate the tension. Many of my clients tell me that the process is therapeutic. For me, yes, there is stress because I want everything to work out, but it's amazing to be a part of helping so many businesses succeed. I love my work.
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Fix Your Partnership Problems
Compensation Issues
Compensation can be a very sensitive subject. People get tired of working for little or nothing and may start to tap the business. If one partner wants, or needs, money, an argument can breakout. There are ways to fix compensation issues without breaking the bank.
Partnership Tension
Small disagreements between business partners can feel like a big difference in vision. From experience, I know most partnership tension can be eliminated without a long, costly process. Having me to stand in the middle and guide the conversation is a good way to reduce the emotional component. As we talk things out and reach concrete agreements, you will see your situation get better and better. Almost all problems can be worked out in a couple days. The cost is far less than getting lawyers involved.
Buyout Is Possible
If your partnership is beyond repair, we can work together toward a buyout. If that is already on your mind, be careful about discussing that with your partner. 2 people will agree that a business is worth a million dollars until someone wants out. Then that same business becomes worthless. Better not to discuss a buyout until you are real clear about what you want. Once the negotiation starts, it's easy for things to get nasty.