Working with a business partner is an attractive and yet somewhat complex proposition. You need to find someone who can add to the skills you have and make the company more successful. You also need someone who can get along with you and work with you as an equal. Choosing the wrong partner can lead to disputes that actively work against the company’s best interests.
How do you know if you and your partner are going to get involved in disputes? A few signs may include:
- They’re not consistent. Maybe they’re often late, or they don’t provide consistent quality in their work, for instance.
- They have a different vision for the company than you do.
- They do things without asking. Your partnership agreement may specify that you both have a legal right to make decisions, but they may not respect that right.
- They’re not good at communicating. The company makes a lot of mistakes because they just do not tell you what you need to know.
- They want to have your job. Maybe you both have the same skills, and you always want to take on the same tasks.
- They never take responsibility for the mistakes that they make. Rather than owning up to it, they are quick to blame others. You wonder what they blame you for behind your back.
When business partners enter into a dispute, especially after one of them violated the contract that they both signed, things can get very complicated. With your entire career on the line, you definitely need to understand your legal rights.