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Harnessing Partnership Conflict
Professional and business partnerships are inherently "flat" with little formal hierarchy to channel, defuse, or resolve conflicting agendas. Either seesawing from subtle (or overt) bullying to resentful withdrawal by one or more partners, the resilience and creativity of the firm is held hostage and its capacity significantly diminished. Frequently power struggles or personality conflicts extend into the firm's creativity and ability to bring the best client solutions to the table. Additionally, valuable talent and time can be wasted or lost when associates ready to extend into partnership roles lose momentum and instead flounder in navigating the hostile cultural terrain. Combining a professional understanding of partnership dynamics and psychological typing, The Zelnick Group can successfully lead the partnership towards harnessing the conflicts which might otherwise derail it. Offering both models for both partnership group dynamics and individual processes, The Zelnick Group builds insight and new perspectives, stabilizing the firm in order to allow a healthy professional culture to rebuild, renew and extend itself.
Ironically, even in those circumstances where the damage is irreparable and the partners can no longer work together, an orderly separation requires the constructive harnessing of conflict in order to facilitate a move forward that best protects the interests of all involved. In fact, these skills are even more important when partnerships reach this stage, as the hostile emotions often lead to negative outcomes, including the wasting of time, energy, and money. The alternative is often costly and protracted litigation, where further damage is done. Under these circumstances, there are no real winners.
Balancing competing demands for client resources, partnership transitions and staff development are inevitable parts of a partnership's evolution. These demands can expose unresolved areas of disagreement, misunderstanding, or interpersonal misalignment, causing debilitating stress for all involved. When approaches that used to work, stop working, it may be time for a fresh perspective. The Zelnick Group prepares clients for change by applying our experience in business and psychology to create a constructive path forward.
The tools available to address partnership issues include the application of our unique and proprietary:
Integrated Bus - Psych Method
Five Element Model Approach
Personality Insight Program
Situational Adjustment and Adaptation Model
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