7 Ways to Get Your Partner to Support Your Business
Business is a challenging adventure. It is also one of the most rewarding adventures when you look at how much it allows you to express yourself and truly fulfill your own potential.
It becomes even more rewarding and much more successful when you are able to create an environment that supports you in building this successful business.
When Nisandeh, my partner, and me started Open Circles, all of our teachers and mentors told us – “Don’t work together”. It would never work out to be partners both in life and in business. Business is difficult enough without being involved emotionally as partners in it.
These warnings came from good friends and people that truly cared for us. It all came from the same old common sense belief of “Don’t do business with family”.
It’s been exactly 20 years ago. Today we celebrate our 20th anniversary and I can honestly say that the decision of working together has been the best decision I’ve made in my life. Nothing has been more rewarding as our life together both as life partners and as business partners.
At the end of every training we’ll have people coming to either me or Nisandeh asking us: “How do I get my partner to support me in my business, the way you two are doing it?
So today I’d like to share with you some lessons I’ve learned in our 20 years together on how to get your partner’s support in your business.
1. Your partner is not a mind reader – be clear about what you want and why.
Very few people are hard-core entrepreneurs, like Nisandeh my partner. Hard-core entrepreneurs are those that never been employees in their lives.
Most of us, like me, have been first an employee and decided at a certain point to take the leap of faith and start this journey called entrepreneurship and building a business. Building a successful business is a challenging journey with ups and downs.
Expecting your spouse or partner to support a half-baked idea based is a sure way to guarantee an awkward and uncomfortable conversation.
I can tell you from my own experience that even though Nisandeh was an entrepreneur all his life, I found out that I get the best support from him to my ideas in business, when my decisions and thoughts are clear on the reasons for WHY I’m doing what I’m doing.
If your decision is based on an emotional irrational response to frustration at work, don’t expect to get a lot of enthusiasm support from your partner to big changes.
Before you share your desire to become your own boss, be clear about what you really want as a result of this major life change. Taking time to reflect on why and when you made this decision creates a better context for him or her to understand where you are and where you want to go.
2. Think strategically and do your research
It’s not enough to share the vision you have for your business. You will need to do as much research as possible before presenting your idea to your spouse.
In order to be successful in your business you need to think strategically. You better think thoroughly on who is your target audience, what do they need, who are your competitors and WHY what you have to give is better than what there is out there.
In order to know it, you will need to do some research. To gain your partner’s support, develop a plan for success that details the steps you’ll take and the choices you’ll make to provide for your family if things don’t work out.
3. Think in numbers and look at your potential funding sources
If you want to get your partner’s support, you always need to put yourself in his or her place. You need to look at the issue from their perspective.
When it comes to business one of the major concerns is the financial side and the effect that it would have on your life styles and living conditions.
If you wish to get their support make sure you put your partner’s mind at ease about how your family’s financial needs will be met. How will you pay for the business? Do you have a plan B? If you can show your spouse that you’ve created a well-thought-out plan, this will go a long way toward calming his or her fears.
If needed consider meeting with a financial planner – having expert advice from a professional shows that you’ve done thorough research.
4. State the benefits
Getting your partner to support you is just like any other sales talk that you would have. You will need to show, explain and demonstrated the benefits of your business and actions to him or her.
Why is your business a good fit for your family? Will it allow your spouse keep their normal way of working or not? If not, talk about these things. Ideally, your business idea will provide other benefits in addition to profitability.
Remember that your name may be on the business card, but you’re not the only person involved in operating the business. Your family’s life will change in order to support your business venture. Ensure that the business is in the best interests of your entire family.
5. It’s not about YOU!
One of the biggest lessons I got was that it is NEVER personal.
The fact that some of my ideas were met with tough questions and skepticism was not a result of not supporting me on my way to a successful business.
Your partner might be very happy that you are pursuing your passion and building a profitable purpose driven business. His or her questions, as tough as they might be, are just indicators that you have not answered their fears and concerns in a way that is clear for THEM. Answer them in a way that speaks their language. If they are visual, prepare a PowerPoint presentation; if they geek out over “numbers,” use Excel.
In essence, let the numbers do the talking for you — show research that supports why your target market is ideal; show statistics to reveal what the problem is you are solving; show numbers that demonstrate why your ideal client will find your solution attractive; show cash flow and profitability forecasts etc..
6. Listening is your best technique
Addressing your partner’s resistance would be a great way to develop the most important skills you would need in business – listening and asking.
The best way to respect your partner’s fears and concerns is to first hear them out without being defensive.
Remember, this business idea is your dream and it has been on your heart and mind for a long period of time. Therefore, you’ve had a chance to process many of the questions your partner is likely to have.
7. Your partner is just like your future client
After you’ve answered all his questions and listened to what they have to say, consider your partner as if they are your future client and ask a ton of questions until you get to the root of what is at the core of their fear or concern; it is rarely the first – or even – second thing they indicate. Invest the time to get to the core and they will see that you are taking them seriously.
The biggest key here is to not get defensive.
The second biggest key is – do not get discouraged, even if you have to have multiple conversations. Don’t expect to finish it in one conversation. Don’t put pressure on the relationship by trying to solve it in one sitting or one conversation, be willing to give it the time and to have the patience to have several conversation on the topic.
Realize that the same techniques would be good with your future clients. Your partner, if he or she are resisting are a great way to practice the same tools that you will need in order to turn prospects into clients.
Now I’m curious….
What have you found that helps get support from your partner?
Share it with us in the comment box below - what are your tips in creating supportive environment?
Let’s support each other in building a strong network of support and share your own wisdom and experience in the comment box below
As a thank-you gift for your comment I will send you a video about ”Mistakes Women Make in Business” from the last seminar of “Women Do Business Differently”
If you find this article inspiring, please SHARE it on Facebook, LinkedIn or retweet it, by pushing the button on the left, for the right channel, so more women could benefit from it.
Please share this article with your:
- LinkedIn connections
and blog readers...
Have a magical week! Vered
