How do you deal with difficult or unresponsive business partners?

I'd add this advice: early on, once you’ve recognized trouble, get clear about what’s at stake for yourself and your business. If the outside partnership is jeopardizing a critical piece of business then you may need to act decisively to blunt the harm.

For this I would say Partners disengage and become difficult when they are not seeing value in the relationship and the outcomes. This should be pre-empted if you are engaging with the Partner as you should be, and if not - then you need to go back to the initial high value points and the reason they decided to Partner with you. Reporting, case studies, true examples of success in the relationship need to be shown here, and an open frank discussion about what their expectations were, how they are being met, and how they can be met and exceeded in the future. Then create a clear engagement plan, build the relationship, set reviews and have data prepared to show and discuss. This should start moving the partnership forward.

Based on my experience, one of the most critical aspects of selecting a partner is to deeply understand their nature, strengths, weakness, and their level of investment in the project itself. I do believe these elements are the keys for a successful communication between partners.

Thanks for the article. Who would you then turn to if your partner (they are a big housing association), aren't following their complaints and protocol? And you've exhausted all other avenues. Is there a business ombudsman? Many thanks.

In the fast pace of business today critical communication can occur through email and text. A troublesome business alliance can sap energy and even trigger legal entangements so it's important to monitor communications with some rigor. Once again, it's important to set the context: how important is the partnership? What are the risks and the opportunities in making it work? How much effort? Avoid impulsivity, stay focused on sound and mutually aligned outcomes.

In business partnerships, positive and respectful communication is the key to building... - Trust - Resolving conflicts - Ensuring long-term success It fosters collaboration, acknowledges contributions, and maintains professionalism, ultimately creating a solid foundation for a thriving partnership.

One thing I’ve found helpful is to use different outreach methods (calls/emails/LinkedIn messages, etc.) and be diligent with your follow up. You never know what’s going on within their organization but want to make sure you’re on top of the things in your control.

Solid steps. Try it and all will like it. This is good advice. You are going to have these situations and with a little thought you can be a better partner and leader.

In my experience, the aggrieved partner should list down their own and the partner's strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes this exercise can bring a person's perception to reality. For example, the aggrieved party may be spending a lot more time on unproductive pursuits, while the other party may be bringing more value to the table despite less work. Alternatively, evaluation of the position prior to the partnership and during the partnership, would also reveal if the overall position for each of the partners has improved or deteriorated after partnership. And yes, an upfront and frank communication certainly helps in ironing out misunderstandings and lack of communication.

You have control over only two things in life. #1 your activity. #2 your attitude. You have done your job if you are invested in continually building new relationships and fostering current relationships. Not all will work out. Being too dependent on a small group of relationships can limit your opportunities and create unnecessary stress and pressure. Ultimately, investing in both your activity and attitude, and building a strong and diverse network, can help you navigate difficult business situations and achieve greater success in the long run.

Sometimes, we might have to let go of something (a deal, a client, or even an argument) in order to save the relationship. Take a long term view. If the relationship is worth it, then please choose your battles/conflict very carefully.