Partnering in business is needed sometime when you are planning to expand your business and you need more support. However, finding perfect partner for business is not an easy feat either. It is hard to find a person that will click right away. Besides, every individual has their own differences driven by different personality, expertise, and knowledge. However, it is not impossible to find the right partner either. Once you find the right one, you need to nurture the relationship. Maintaining healthy business relationship is a challenge you and your partner need to work for.
How to maintain healthy business relationship?
Establishing healthy business relationship can be challenging in some ways due to differences here and there. Besides, there is personal factors that can get in the way and threaten your business relationship to strain. Being able to work well together in the long run needs well maintenance on both sides. Here are some tips you can follow.
Open and Effective Communication
Open, and effective communication is one of the most important factors when it comes to maintaining healthy relationship. Clashes are inevitable sometimes because differences are unavoidable in some parts of your business. Different opinions or perspectives can lead to conflict if you cannot communicate it well. That’s why it is important to establish open, effective communication where you and your partner will avoid speaking with offensive words. You need to communicate with honest and do not be afraid to state what’s in your mind to find the best solution. It is easier said than done but truly worth it once it’s established.
Transparency is the Key
Maintain transparency to keep your business relationship healthy. You and your partner need to know that there is no lurking in the background. Lack of transparency will only lit the fire of distrust which can end up in straining your bond. Financial issue is one of the most common factors causing business relationship gone sour. However, it won’t happen to you if you have set transparency of everything related to the business from the start and keep it that way.
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Fair Equality
Remember that since this is business partnership, you need to address equality fairly. You and your partner needs to know each other roles and responsibilities regarding to the partnership you are involved in. when there is an imbalance of work ethic, it can create conflict because there will be a feeling of misplaced or mistreated. Equality is one of the most important ingredients for successful partnership in business.
Formal Agreements
It is important to make explicit clause regarding to the business relationship you both agreed on. Formal, written agreements are important to make. Within the agreements, you also need to state everything that needed to be addressed including the end of the relationship. That’s why it is important to choose business partner based on their expertise and knowledge. Do not use personal feeling or emotion in choosing business partner because it will make you less enthusiast to make formal, written agreement sue to excessive sense of trust. Healthy business relationship needs a strong foundation and clear clause from the start.
