Co-founders don’t communicate enough. In any kind of shared leadership situation, trust is critical. And that means constant, open, honest communication. It may be exhausting, but if you don’t have trust, you don’t have anything.
Chuck Y.
1w
I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. As a business changes, partners do as well, and that can lead you apart.They change, their interests and desires change, and it leads you away from each other. It happened to me with people I love and I’m someone who over communicates and over connects. No man steps in the same river twice, and the partner you start a business with is very different the next year. Make sure you know who that new person is and what their vision is.
Larry Michel
1w
Yes, trustworthiness is a critical element, but there is one far more important, which is too often overlooked and without it will spell the end of even your best leaders, and employees. That element is co-creation. Co-founders who no longer communicate have lost the connection and thus the inspiration of the co-creation that was part of the company creation. Whenever a company transitions its people to a place of 'delivery of service' without the element of co-creation within that delivery, no matter how much they are paid they will eventually leave, or disappear within the ranks. Lack of co-creation is the death call of any relationship, business and personal. Make it a priority and you have much more than just longevity, you also have an overwhelming amount of growth and joy.
JoAnn Garbin
1w
💯 True in any team of any size! This is why in my team we have made it the norm to #sayitugly. It means we share more and more often because we don't have to be perfect. "Say it ugly and we'll pretty it up together."
Jaci Smith
1w
Efforts and input by both founders is also a juggling act unless stakes reflect the actual input. For example if one co-founder joins later and is provided less equity. Aspirations and excitement levels also need to ideally remain level and definitely high. Trust is everything and is something that you don’t know you really have until you really don’t. From my experience. Probably why I’m a solo founder in two startups. I do treat my founding team as co-founders to an extent though. Always seeking feedback and their thoughts even though the final call rests with me.
Mark P. Jung
1w
💯 Make it part of your daily operating rhythm
Rachit Jawa
1w
The biggest hurdle in effective communication is knowing the true state of mind of the people in your team. Funnily enough, the only way to do that is through ample communication. I try and overcommunicate especially in times of uncertainty. It's better that your team hears something from you rather than run their minds in all directions which ultimately leads to the festering of fear driven assumptions.
Let's repeat those words: "if you don’t have trust, you don’t have anything."
I work closely with 2 co-founders and communication is one thing they do well. I think it makes a difference when you know that 2 people can make decisions on behalf of each other because they have communicated so well.
Communication and collaboration; you don’t have to go at it alone.
Senior Systems Architect, Net Architecture & Technology at Rogers Communications
1wEven with continuons communications amongst co-founders, frictions appear when IP is filed and when initial funding is about to materialize. All this is normal, except sometimes some ruthless elements want to take the alpha male posture to give themselves more than their fair share. I can't stand these behaviors and unfortunately more often than not they end up winning. There is a healthy level of "competition" between co-founders, but it can make everything fail if communication is not continuous and honest.