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A partnership changes every time counterparts communicate -- or fail to do so
January 21, 2010
Most collaborators, even many of the best, do not realize the role communication plays in creating a powerful partnership. Every time two counterparts talk, their relationship is altered. What goes on beneath the surface is more important than the information exchanged.
To survive financially right now, businesses need to build a “fortress balance sheet,” says Gallup’s chief economist. Moreover, he cautions: Be wary of Wall Street as a measure of the economy -- it has become decoupled from Main Street and isn’t a reliable barometer.
In effective partnerships, collaborators focus on each other's strengths, not weaknesses; accept each other as they are; and are understanding of one another's mistakes. This is all easier said than done, of course, note the authors of the new book Power of 2: How to Make the Most of Your Partnerships at Work and in Life.
Too many managers focus on fixing people’s weaknesses -- or worse, they simply ignore employees altogether. This doesn’t boost performance. But Gallup has found that if your manager focuses on your strengths, your chances of being actively disengaged at work are only 1 in 100.
