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Partnership Myth 14: The partner that holds the money should run the show

The process for selecting a leader for your partnership can stop a partnership before it even starts. The process can be so uncomfortable that partners default to generic criteria. “The leader should be the one who: contributes the most money and resources; is the largest organization; has the most to lose; or who has the […]
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Partnership Myth 13: We should always try to collaborate

Not true. Within partnerships, not every task requires people to collaborate or work together. Some tasks are more efficiently and effectively completed in isolation. Involving more people, taking the time to learn how to work together, in order to complete a task or goal, could be a waste of time and use up scarce resources. […]
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Partnership Myth 12: Conflict and confrontation should be avoided

Conflict and confrontation help develop healthy relationships and partnerships. If done in the right context, conflicts and confrontations can provide you with essential gems for growing your partnership and solving problems. For example, if you want your kids to tell you the truth when you ask them a question, you have to be prepared for […]
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Partnership Myth 11: Trust will develop naturally

Trust doesn’t happen by accident, regardless if you believe if it is ‘given or earned’. Trust is built more effectively when you have a specific and purposeful trust building strategy. People have their own rules and beliefs about trust. People have their unique definition of trust. People experience feelings of trust differently. People gain and […]
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Partnership Myth 10: We don’t need to spend time developing relationships

One of the most important investments leaders make to ensure the success of their partnership is to develop strong relationships among the partners. Do you do business with people you don’t respect? Do you refer friends and colleagues to service providers you don’t like? Are you transparent with leaders you don’t trust? Do you communicate […]
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Partnership Myth 9: Collaboration is about everyone getting along

Your partners might expect that ‘as long as we are collaborating, we must get along’. Your partners each have unique and specific needs they want met.  If partners help you meet your needs, you’ll perceive that you are ‘getting along’ with them.  If they challenge you, or do things that interfere with you meeting your […]
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Partnership Myth 7: Partnerships make the process more complex

One of the biggest objections to creating or joining partnerships is that they make things more complex, involving more ‘red tape’, rules and policies. Successful partnerships require clarification of roles, responsibilities, rules, policies and objectives.  They actually force leaders to be more accountable and transparent in areas where they might usually fly beneath the radar.  […]
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Partnership Myth 6: Sustainability is a sign of partnership success

Sustainability might be one of the biggest illusions and unrealistic expectations in the field of business partnerships.   First let’s clarify something important, which is the definition of success.  Some leaders assume that the success of a partnership is defined by its ability to be sustained.  That might be true if one of the highest […]
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Partnership Myth 5: Partnerships function just like other organizational teams.

Partnership leaders may assume that partnerships function just like organizational teams.  Our experience suggests there are a few key differentiating characteristics that influence partnership functioning differently.   Members from different organizations. Members across industries. Shorter time horizon. Prioritizing individual vs organizational vs partnership objectives. Direction and leadership from someone who isn’t your employer. Partnership work […]
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