Is your Business Partnership about to Crash and Burn?Written by Dr. Dorene Lehavi
The Seven C's: Danger Signs not to be Ignored When Harry teamed up with Joe, everyone thought it was a business match made in heaven. Both loved clothing business. Harry was a natural salesman with good design sense and Joe was a shrewd buyer and financial whiz. Together they opened a clothing store that showed every sign of becoming a franchise. So why after just a year, when flagship store was a big hit were they struggling with a costly and acrimonious divorce? Why were they talking about bankruptcy instead of fall line -- when they talked at all? One of main reasons was a communications breakdown, which is all too common with partnerships. Few, however ever pay heed until it grows into a monster. The very things that made Harry and Joe such a perfect complement to each other were now tearing business apart. It can happen in any partnership if great care is not taken. And here is where a business partnership coach comes in. There are a number of danger signs that a business partnership may be about to crash and burn. Harry and Joe missed all of them. Visions that seemed similar differed when money was on line. For instance Joe wanted a strong foundation and measured growth, while wheeling-dealing Harry wanted to strike hard while iron was hot. As is typical in many partnerships, Joe needed a flamboyant frontman just as much as Harry needed someone steady in back room, but their contrasting work styles bred irritation then conflict. The very nature of a partnership means that things can quickly get personal even in most professional relationship. Have you missed some or all of warning signs that have spelled end of business matches?
| | Top Ten Ways to Improve Your Communication SkillsWritten by Dr. Dorene Lehavi
1) Listen without judgment. The key to good communication is listening well. Save your judging for later after you have heard and understood what was said. 2) Listen with willingness to be swayed to other person's opinion. No obligation to actually being swayed, but stay open to option. 3) Listen without thinking about what you will say next. Take time before you respond. 4) Do not be invested in being right. Being right is not point. If you must be right, you are not able to listen nor communicate because you have set up a barrier already. If you are always right that means other person is always wrong. That cannot be true. 5) If your mind wanders, ask for repetition. We all are subject to distraction. Try to stay focused. 6) In all cases repeat back what you heard and ask if it is correct.
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