What do you do if your career goals clash with your partners' objectives?

1 Communicate openly

The first step to resolving any disagreement is to communicate openly and respectfully. Don't assume you know what your partner wants or needs, and don't hide your own aspirations or frustrations. Instead, have a honest and constructive conversation, where you listen to each other's perspectives, acknowledge each other's feelings, and express your own concerns and expectations. Try to understand the root cause of the clash, and avoid blaming or criticizing each other.

3 Compromise and negotiate

Sometimes, finding common ground may not be enough to resolve the clash, and you may have to compromise and negotiate. This means that you have to be willing to give and take, and to respect each other's boundaries and preferences. For example, you may have to adjust your workload, your schedule, your role, or your compensation, to accommodate your partner's needs or requests, and vice versa. You may also have to agree on some trade-offs, such as sacrificing some short-term gains for long-term benefits, or prioritizing some projects over others. Compromise and negotiation require mutual respect and cooperation, and a willingness to find a win-win solution.

4 Seek external support

If you and your partner are unable to resolve the clash on your own, you may need to seek external support. This could be in the form of a mediator, a mentor, a coach, a consultant, or a trusted advisor, who can help you facilitate the dialogue, provide objective feedback, offer expert advice, or suggest alternative options. Seeking external support can help you gain new insights, perspectives, and skills, and overcome any impasse or deadlock that may arise in your partnership.

5 Revisit and review

Finally, after you have resolved the clash, you should revisit and review your partnership agreement and your career goals regularly. This can help you monitor your progress, evaluate your results, celebrate your achievements, and address any new issues or challenges that may emerge. Revisiting and reviewing can also help you maintain a healthy and productive partnership, and adapt to any changes or opportunities that may arise in your business environment.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?