If you have one or more business partners, then it is unlikely that you will agree with them on everything. Occasional disagreements are par for the course, and the ability to see things differently can help drive the company forward.
Sometimes, however, disagreements are anything but minor and can hinder, rather than help, forward progress. If poorly handled, they might even put the future of the business at risk. As such, the following questions are usually worth asking if you find yourself in a serious dispute with a partner.
Is this concern as important as we are making it?
Is there a real issue at stake here, or is it more a case of egos getting knocked out of place? Sometimes you need to bring in a neutral third party to provide some perspective.
What does the partnership agreement say?
A well-drafted partnership agreement should foresee and plan for possible disputes. Maybe yours specifies who has the final say, or that you need to take things to arbitration rather than litigation. You should also have included clauses specifying what happens if the only solution you reach is that one person will leave. How will their part be valued, and who, if anyone, has the first right of refusal to obtain their shares?
How will others perceive this?
Two partners blowing up at each other in front of their employees, customers or suppliers is never a good look. It can reduce other people’s faith in the company, or their willingness to deal with them, especially if the dispute turns nasty.
Bringing in early outside guidance can often help you handle a partnership dispute in a calmer, less damaging way, as well as increase the chance you find a solution that is amenable to all partners.
