Like other long-term relationships, business partners may experience rough patches and develop conflicting views. As reported by Inc.com, partners who apply complementary resolution skills could find it easier to work out their differences. Discussing the issues and breaking them down into actionable steps could help you overcome the obstacles standing in the way of your goals.
If you and a partner have radically different communication methods and conflicting goals, a serious enough dispute may lead to legal action. Although it may appear extreme, it could help repair the business. In some cases, finding a new partner or reorganizing an enterprise may provide a workable solution.
Finding ways to resolve conflicts without a legal action
A business may encounter a unique scenario that creates tension and leads to a heated dispute. A sudden change in customers, for example, could result in a major misalignment that alters your original goals. Forbes describes how you could, however, resolve a dispute by working out new shared goals and realigning your decision-making strategies.
By finding common ground, you could develop new ways to work toward shared objectives. Scheduling regular brainstorming or “active listening” sessions could help communicate and resolve differences constructively.
Bringing in a third party to help realign a strategy or mission
A third party may help business partners communicate openly and enter into a more productive discussion. Introducing a skilled third party into a conflict could help bring about an agreement that moves things forward. An objective mediator, for example, could listen attentively and then offer suggestions to resolve differences.
The issues at hand may require new approaches, such as using available resources to launch new business strategies. An experienced and impartial mediator could help you work out solutions without resorting to legal action to break up a partnership.