Conflict, confusion or discord over roles are an inevitable part of partnering. Resolve the conflict by clarifying the respective position or goal of each partner. A useful tool to isolate difference of opinion is the partner role matrix. With this matrix, each role is described and each partner independently maps-out their responsibility for accomplishing the role. When the two maps are compared, the differences are apparent and are isolated for resolve.
Partnerships improve when guided and controlled.
A process, if developed and tailored to the partnership, can improve and add strength to the partnership, facilitating its maturity and growth. It keeps the partnership focused on their goals, becomes an early indication of problems, both objective and subjective, and permits it to rationally resolve differences based on facts and measured conditions. In developing partnerships, both parties change to maximize the impact their respective organizations bring to the partnership. Trust develops to the point where decisions are made in the overall best interest of the partnership and not the short-term interest of either partner. They become more than the sum of their parts.