The one question to ask to assess partnership health, managing negative feedback and how to rebuild after being burnt
In partnership with MWAH. Making Work Absolutely Human.
Welcome to Partnership Wednesday! Here are 3 ideas from me and 1 question for you to consider this week to create partnerships you never thought possible, plus additional insight from the Partnership+ podcast.
3 IDEAS FROM ME
I.
Every partnership is held together by a bond. It’s the common ground of shared intent and commitment to achieve an outcome together, and each bond goes through different levels of strength over time. When trying to understand the health of a partnership, start by asking, how strong is the bond and how has it changed over time?
II.
Cultural alignment is equally important as strategic alignment. While the strategic fit is crucial, the cultural alignment can be a make or break factor between partners. Companies often discover that shared values and compatible company cultures are critical for long-term cooperation and mutual understanding. Misalignment can lead to friction, misunderstanding, and ultimately, a partnership’s downfall.
III.
What do you do if your partners give negative feedback in a partnership? I was this asked this question from the crowd this week. Here’s my answer:
A partnership is never always perfect. It’s one thing to receive, respond and act on negative feedback. Not ever receiving negative feedback is likely a symptom of a bigger issue. Building a muscle that regularly asks the question, ‘Is everything going as well as we think it is?’ is a healthy way to surface issues that some people may feel initially uncomfortable raising. This can also improve already transparent partnership relationships.
1 QUESTION FOR YOU
Which one of your competitors could actually be a collaborator in the future?
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https://philhsc.com/partnership/10-april-2024
Until next week,
Phil Hayes-St Clair - Partnership Expert
Partnership+
Today we revisit an important question: How do I regain confidence to re-enter business partnerships after being burnt. This is a two part video series. Leave your questions in the comments section on YouTube and I’ll respond to you ASAP!
FROM OUR PARTNER
Want to know the best kept secret in business? It’s having on-demand access to resources to help you grow a thriving team culture and to manage those tricky Human Resources issues when they come up.
The team at Making Work Absolutely Human (MWAH) have got you covered. In addition to providing advice to create incredible cultures at the world’s most iconic brands they also help people like you and me with a simple online membership to actionable resources, downloadable guides and advice to help you navigate any tricky topic when it comes to people and culture. I’m a long time customer and it’s incredible.
As a Wednesday Partnership reader you can get $25 off MWAH’s annual Knowledge Base membership. Just head over to MWAH and use the word PARTNERSHIP on checkout.
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