How data saved a partnership: A Case Study

"Collaboration" is such a buzzword these days, and for good reason. As we explore the Power of 2, creating processes to build the best teams and partnerships is essential in having teams.

Here’s a real case from MPWR, where the partners were at their wits end with each other. The outcome was game-changing, and the two ended up being able to laugh and reflect at what was a stressful situation (understate

For confidentiality, the names have been changed and the context slightly altered, but the data and situation is real.

The Case

A team is tasked with created an event for the Stanley Cup. They have several months to create the event outline, get sponsorship, secure a venue, and send out invites. Everything is going smoothly until 2 weeks to the event, where there is an unexpected obstacle with the title sponsor, sparking an unprecedented blow-out between the normally close sponsorship lead and logistics lead. It seemed that not only was the event going to be a disaster, but the relationship between the two was permanently damaged.

The Blowout

The fight was between Ava (liaison to the title sponsor) and Georgia (liaison to the venue). The title sponsor had been secured months before the event, and everything seemed to be working well.

Two weeks before the event, the sponsor reaches out to Ava to let her know that the booth they would like is twice as large as initially expected. This change did not seem like a big deal to Ava, and passed the message along to Georgia. Georgia was hesitant about the change, and was unsure if the venue would allow the larger booth.

To Ava, the change was inconsequential, and did not understand why Georgia was being difficult.

To Georgia, the logistics were already set, and did not understand how Ava could make a decision without consulting the team.

The ensuing argument was massive, and nearly tore the team apart. Ultimately, the event went off without a hitch, and the booth was not an issue at all. Ava felt smug that the venue didn't have a problem with it, as she had anticipated, and Georgia saw that by simply consulting the team, the problem could have been avoided.

The fight was upsetting because Ava and Georgia had worked exceptionally well for a year as partners and had never had a single issue.

Why did THIS situation almost ruin their relationship?

The Data

After the event, Ava and Georgia went through the MPWR process and saw their interaction report. It caused them to laugh out loud and realize that the solution was SO simple:

1) Ava to tell Georgia that waiting on making decisions causes her anxiety

2) Georgia to tell Ava that making decisions quickly causes her anxiety

3) Use their strategic impulses to create a pros and cons list for decision making style in each situation

Ava in RED, Georgia in BLUE

With the two having similar confidence, competitiveness, and intellectually critical, it was no wonder they had worked well for a year. Many of the projects they worked on together were strategic in nature, and both Ava and Georgia were lowest in Action Focused and highest in Analytical/Conceptual. They were comfortable in the strategic, and flourished professionally and personally.

Events are heavily detail focused, which caused both Georgia and Ava to have to rely on their lowest attentional style. This, plus the increase in external expectations, increased pressure. With a slower decision marking style (outlined in the "anxiety" scale, Georgia needs more information to make decisions. Ava is lower on anxiety, and tends to rush people. Here's an excerpt from the interaction report on the anxiety scale:

"Haste makes waste (Georgia)" meets "He who hesitates is lost (Ava)." Although you two may be similar on other dimensions, on speed of decision making and anxiety you go in opposite directions. Because this variable can affect all levels of decisions, it is crucial that you learn to work together rather than get on each other's nerves.

Georgia's makes decisions carefully, believing haste makes waste. For many successful people, their anxiety fuels their perfectionism and quest to get things done and done right. In some fields, accuracy is more important than speed. Georgia, you may have to learn to let go of some perfectionism and learn a process for making decisions when not all the desired information is available. Otherwise, you will come to a standstill. 

Ava, you are rarely anxious except when you have to wait. You take pride in your ability to make a decision and move on. You would rather make a mistake taking a risk on a decision than lull the organization into inactivity. As much as you may respect Georgia, delays in decisions stress you. You may seem more frustrated or angry than anxious and thus visit the stress on other people. 

Resolve together that it is possible to make a decision either too quickly or too slowly. In a calm moment, discuss the pros and cons of fast vs. slow decision making. Ava, give Georgia your reasons for wanting to hurry. Georgia, tell Ava about the negative consequences you have felt when you hurried and have had to live with careless mistakes. Have a laugh about your idiosyncrasies and let go of recriminations. Now, while you are in a good mood, work out a plan about when and how to give over the decision to the appropriate style.

Using data improves communication, collaboration and creative problem solving. It turns the conversation from a total blow-out to an objective problem-solving opportunity. No feelings were hurt in this process, and the two repaired their relationship with humour, self-awareness and understanding.

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