If the answer is yes to either of these questions, then I would urge you to stop and consider:
How closely aligned are you and your partners right NOW?
When was the last time you had a deep and meaningful conversation about your personal ambitions and your growth ambitions for the business?
How would you rate the communication between the key players?
Have you had a niggle and chosen not to address it?
Do you know you are burying your head in the sand?
Are there roles and responsibilities which would benefit from being clarified?
Are personality, communication, or attitude differences starting to become more apparent?
Were you brutally honest with yourself when you answered the questions? If not, have another go!
Business partnerships tend to start with great enthusiasm and energy as the business may have been formed due to friendships or respect for like-minded individuals. However, over time this can dwindle, or wane or relations may even break down completely. This has become increasingly apparent post-Covid-lockdowns when normal service got disrupted, other matters took priority, communication became fractured and now partners may be trying to navigate new waters.
This all applies to family businesses too. Many of which have very murky or non-existent job descriptions or poorly defined areas of responsibility, resulting in a lack of accountability. This combined with communication issues based upon not upsetting other family members can hamper the progress of developing individuals moving up with the family business and lead to a lot of wasted energy.
What can you do?
Tackle it head-on and do it immediately. Time will not heal in this circumstance. Addressing the matter will.
Conducting a review of your business can help business owners redefine tasks and areas of responsibility, identify new revenue streams, ensure all key players are aligned in their thinking, and re-enthuse leaders or directors.
I would also suggest you consider the impact it is having on your employees. You may be adept at avoiding or skirting the issue, but I can guarantee that your employees will have picked up on the slightest tension.
A final consideration is how this underlying issue or tension is affecting you in your personal life. How conscious are you of the effect it is having on you and your family?
If you are not sure how to begin, then please get in touch. Having an objective outsider who can facilitate discussion and focus you on honestly examining your current position, and then help you identify a blueprint for your future plans can be invaluable. It may even save your business or a fortune in legal fees if you can steady your ship and get back on an even keel and are all in agreement about your future direction.