I read a great article by Elinor Robin on WomenEntrepreneur.com called The 7 Components of Positive Partnership where she provides analysis of the seven most important things a partnership has to encompass to be successful.  While the article is targeted to businesses operating as partnerships, the traits apply to any type of partnership you might have in business (e.g., with colleagues, clients, etc.).

Elinor lists these 7 characteristics of a successful partnership:

1. Shared values
2. Complementary skills and traits
3. Sense of equity
4. Growing together
5. Proactive conflict management strategies
6. Shared vision
7. An exit strategy

Each of the traits Elinor discusses is meant to create a stronger team.  The one that stands out the most to me (aside from having the same goals and vision) is #2 – complementary skills and traits.  Whenever I have to build a team, I always look for a team of people who bring different skills to the table but will work together cohesively to ensure all bases are covered, gaps are filled and the strongest team overall is created.

You can read Elinor’s analysis of each characteristic of a successful partnership in her article on WomenEntrepreneur.com.  What other traits do you find to be essential when it comes to developing a successful partnership?

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