"Does the partnership cause the success, or does the success cause the partnership?"
- Working Together, page 281
"Each of the partnerships profiled in this book illustrates different ways of sharing and different styles of working together. It is hardly as simple as dividing up power, authority, the spotlight, salary, stock options, and success down the middle."- Working Together, page xvi
It’s human nature to seek the quick and easy path to success. History is full of stories about people’s quest for the Holy Grail, the search for the fountain of youth, the philosopher’s stone, the proverbial ‘silver bullet’. And while there are common elements that can guide us more surely along the path to success, the reality is we must alter the recipe to suit our own unique strengths, limitations, desires and situations. The same is true for creating winning partnerships.
That said, there are a few ‘ingredients’ that seem to underpin all successful partnerships (or marriages or friendships…). Consider how well you are executing the following behaviours in your current partnerships and talk about ways you can strengthen these elements. Or, if you are about to embark on a new partnership, use these touchstones as a guide for establishing a strong foundation upon which to grow.
Eisner puts it this way, “A quality partnership also allows you to recognize your own weaknesses, and draw on a partner’s strengths without being uncomfortable about the vulnerability.”
"Two minds, two endurances, two personalities, tied to a common cause works."- Working Together, page 278
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve either heard or used the phrase “two heads are better than one” I’d likely be writing this from an idyllic island retreat instead of my home office in southern Ontario! We know the adage is grounded in truth and we likely have benefitted from implementing it in myriad ways in our business and personal lives. And yet, it is generally not our dominant modus operandi when it comes to getting things done.
As Eisner points out, society has had a long-held fascination with solitary “heroes” who rise out of nothingness and achieve the impossible; a myth he believes has been promoted disproportionately in the media. This has created a false perception that if we work hard enough, we can become the next Steve Jobs, Jack Welch or J.P. Morgan. So for most of us, the idea of searching for someone to work hand-in-hand with us to achieve our aspirations runs counter to the way we have been taught to pursue and achieve success.
As a self-employed consultant and trainer, I live this on a daily basis. And while I do collaborate with colleagues on the occasional project and benefit from that immensely, I have not (yet) applied the partnership principle to the running of my business writ large. I probably need to explore what’s preventing me from moving in that direction more deeply and nudge myself to create opportunities to ‘partner up’ with others more often.
I would encourage you to do the same. What are you currently working on that could benefit from the skills, talents or perspectives of someone else? How might you create a partnership that leverages your strengths and counter-balances your weaknesses? A wise individual once said to me, “You may need to do this yourself, however you don’t need to do it alone.” Challenge your assumptions and your ‘regular’ way of doing things. See if you can find one small task or project where you can bring in a ‘partner’ and benefit from that second ‘head’.
"Partnerships all made these people happy, and happier than they would have been had they worked for their success alone. They had someone else with whom to experience the challenging lows and the ecstatic highs; another person in the trenches, another person to pop the champagne."- Working Together, page 282
Wow! Who here doesn’t want to be happier in their work and personal lives? Who would prefer to organize a party for one (be it of a celebratory nature or a pity party)? Who wants to work harder alone rather than alongside others who share your dreams and aspirations? I truly hope no hands were raised to these rhetorical questions!
And yet, finding the right partner for our various dreams and aspirations is itself hard work. Through trial and error I did find my life partner. I have not yet experienced the same success in a business context. Sure, there are people I like to call on to collaborate on small projects which is definitely a win-win. But those are small ‘p’ partnerships and Working Together has inspired me to seek a bigger ‘P’ partnership. So I’ll keep looking and experimenting, because, according to everyone who has been in a successful partnership, “Working together is much better than working…alone.”
Ok…so while the book did not provide us with the definitive “Top Ten” list of factors or qualities that ensure partnership success, I’m going to ask you to help me build one. When you think of the successful partnerships you’ve had, what is the one thing you have looked for or valued the most in those relationships? What do you think the ‘secret’ to your partnership success has been?
For four decades, Michael Eisner has been a leader in the American entertainment industry. He began his career at ABC, where he helped take the network from number three to number one in primetime, daytime and children’s television with such landmark shows as Happy Days; Barney Miller; Rich Man, Poor Man; and Roots. In 1976, he became president of Paramount Pictures, turning out hit films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Terms of Endearment. This string of critically acclaimed and blockbuster films led the studio to become number one in box office and profitability in both theatrical movies and network television production.In 1984 Michael assumed the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company and, in the ensuing 21 years, transformed it from a film and theme park company with $1.8 billion in enterprise value into a global media empire valued at $80 billion. For almost thirty years, companies that Eisner managed were either number one or number two at the motion picture box office.In 2005, Michael began the “next act” of his career by founding The Tornante Company, a privately held company that invests in, acquires, incubates, and operates media and entertainment companies.
