All For HIM Marketing Solutions Inc.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Set Roles Up Front

Many small businesses are made up of partnerships on some level.  Make sure you have tough conversations up front so you can preserve your relationships later.  You both should have a say in major decisions, but should decide up front which tasks, departments, employee groups, or projects that each of you will have primary responsibility for.  

This will help streamline you business making you more agile in your changing economic environment, as well as prevent the ocassional hurt feelings over not being included or, more importantly, prevent your business from missing an opportunity due to someone not knowing if they had authority to make certain decisions.  Missing an opportunity due to inaction can be tragic.  So, instead, set up checks and balances as to what decisions need consulting and which ones are futile.  For this reason though it is important that you place yourselves in the roles you are best in, not the ones you like best.  

1 comment:

Natalie said...

This is so true. I think to often we try not to step on peoples "toes" and end up ruining these relationships later. Clearly defined roles are the way to go!