It's Easy to Create Successful Partnerships
Partnerships are everywhere in life: we partner with a phone company to provide our telecommunication services; we may choose to partner with a person to share our love and commitment; we even partner with a waiter to feed our hunger at a restaurant. Partnerships abound, but why are some smooth and comfortable while others are so difficult?
Personality Matches
A natural compatibility or personality match makes some partnerships smooth and easy. It's just like when you meet someone for the first time and you both "click" -- rapport is created instantly and an effective partnership can ensue.
Similarly, at some point in your life, you've probably met someone who "rubbed you the wrong way" for no apparent reason. A natural personality clash such as this can create challenges in any partnership.
Speak Now...or Let Resentment Fester
In many cases, all that's required to elevate any partnership is for each party to speak up about their wants, needs and expectations. Communication breakdowns are common in challenging partnerships, and it can be tough to initiate communication with someone who doesn't seem to be open to discussing key issues. Emotions and underlying resentment can destroy the ability to create open communication, thereby exacerbating the difficulties.
It's key to remember that in any kind of partnership, you need to be able to speak your mind and express your needs firmly and objectively, without being defensive or attacking the other person or entities. In turn, you must be open to listening to the wants and needs of the partner, and being receptive to creating a win-win scenario.
The True Secret of Successful Partnerships
Arguably, the true secret of successful partnerships is the win-win-win scenario. How can you create a solution that is beneficial to both partners, as well as the organization, community, shareholders, or others who would be affected by the outcome?
Think about it - your best partnerships are those that involve give and take. You neither feel taken advantage of, nor feel as though you are taking advantage of your partner. The highest level of satisfaction comes when both parties feel they are getting a great deal and somehow serving the greater good. When one person feels as though they are frequently sacrificing their own wants or needs, resentment festers, and the partnership cannot continue to thrive long-term. Consider that you truly can get what you want while providing an ideal scenario for a potential partner.
For example, we were putting up holiday lights on the exterior of our home, and we decided that this year, we didn't want to pay professionals hundreds of dollars to hang our lights. All the nails and extension cords were in place, and it was just a matter of getting up on the roof (a rather high roof, in this two-story home) to place the lights. However, my wife was six months pregnant at the time, and she was unable to assist me in this.
Suddenly, I got an idea.
I found a construction worker in the neighborhood with one of those retractable cranes, and offered to pay him $20 to hang my highest lights. The job only took him about 15 minutes, so he was happy to do it and earn the extra cash, and I was delighted that I didn't have to get up on the roof and it cost me so little. My wife was also happy that I didn't get up on the roof!
It's easy (and highly rewarding) to create win-win-win scenarios when we focus on doing just that. Sure, I could have asked a neighbor to do me a favor, but that wouldn't have been an even exchange. He or I might have felt as though I then owed him a favor, and it's never really a good feeling to owe someone for something. By hiring a local construction worker (a stranger to me), I was able to create a fair exchange of money for time and experience.
Look for ways to create win-win-win scenarios in all your partnerships and watch how quickly the quality of those relationships begins to improve. It can make your life easier, save you time and money, and create greater joy and satisfaction. Good luck!
About the Author
Andy Grant and his wife Amy Scott Grant have committed the past decade to demonstrating win-win-win work at home solutions for individuals and couples around the globe. Andy & Amy only work with committed, passionate individuals and couples who are excited to learn how to combine making money with making a difference (the ultimate win-win-win!). You can check out their website to learn more: http://InspiringFreedom.com
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