Partnership Myth 2: Partners should already know how to work well in a team environment.

Partnership leaders might assume that their partners already know how to perform well in a team.  The challenge is that every team is different, and partners often need time to adjust to the new partnership.

Think of your partners like athletes who play multiple sports (e.g., basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, field hockey, etc). We forget that we participate in many different teams simultaneously – and each sport has different rules, different players and different objectives.

1. Invest time and energy early on in the partnership to establish a culture that fosters teamwork.
2. Define the rules of the road and how this team will work together.
3. Clarify roles and responsibilities. Leverage the strengths of team members, making sure to cover the major roles needed to make the partnership successful.

©2016 Enette Pauzé & Level 8 Leadership Institute. All rights reserved.