Collaboration in business is often evaluated solely on the basis of potential financial benefits. That is an important factor for sure, but as in all areas of business, there are some “soft” benefits to as well, and considering them is an important part of knowing if a particular joint project makes sense for you.

Personality fit is a big one — There’s no one right personality type for an ideal partnership. Both parties just need to be clear on know who is who, and what foibles they each bring to the table. It’s easy to look at the other party critically, but we need take a good look at ourselves as well. And it’s just as important to truly know and acknowledge our weaknesses — or as I prefer to call them, “lesser evolved qualities” — as it is our strengths. Maybe even more, since it’s the former that seem to bring out more of the challenges.

Communications style is another intangible — Are your communication styles compatible? I’m pretty straightforward, which rubs some people the wrong way. Other people love it. I show pleasure and displeasure with equal sincerity, so if someone expects me to dance around an issue with, “Well, uhm, I sort of think, maybe we should…” we’re not going to work well together. Without compromising mutual respect, I want to know what they are thinking without second guessing, and I want to work in an environment where I have the same freedom.

Values fit is another biggie — What do you value, what does your partner value? Creative autonomy, collaborative problem solving , high quality standards, level of financial return, social or community contribution, environmental benefits… These are just a few of the values that may come into play, the list is endless. You don’t have to have identical values, but they do need to be compatible. Knowing and respecting each other’s values allows you to both get what you need.

Know what works for you and doesn’t, then don’t take it personally. If both of you can acknowledge and openly discuss differences up front, and come up with a game plan to bridge any gaps as they arise, you’ll be better equipped than many marriages to weather the inevitable storms.

If you can’t discuss things openly and reach an agreement, better to know before you “walk down the aisle.”

Liz Gaige
Market Navigators Consulting

Tags: business partners, business partnerships, collaboration, know your strengths, Liz Gaige, Market Navigators

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 9:05 am and is filed under 1+1 = 3 The Power of Collaboration, Blog, Liz Gaige - Marketing, Marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.