Partnership Coaching

When two people work together, success depends on the strength of their relationship. Too often, energy is invested in designing a partnership agreement around legal requirements and functional roles, but no effort is invested in creating conditions for sustainable trust and effective communication – essential ingredients for partnership success.

When is Partnership Coaching Right for You?

Partnership coaching is ideal for defining roles between work partners who provide co-leadership for an organization. It is a proactive way to help partners set the organization’s tone and culture, and strengthen their vision of shared leadership. Consider this option if you are:

• Business partners establishing a new venture together
• CEO/Executive Director and Board Chair designing your working alliance
• Adopting a co-leadership role for the first time
• Redefining formal roles within a partnership
• Activating a succession plan as one partner retires and the successor steps into the leadership role

The Horizon Approach

We understand that each partnership – and each partner – is unique. We begin our process by conducting intensive sessions with partners to design a coaching plan that recognizes each individual’s strengths and responsibilities, and defines specific objectives and outcomes. When those sessions are finished, we provide monthly check-ins to support the evolving partnership and address any concerns.

The process addresses key objectives including:

• Designing the partnership alliance
• Creating a shared vision
• Defining the partnership’s strengths and weaknesses
• Articulating formal and informal roles
• Creating a shared behavioural contract
• Understanding techniques for dealing with disagreement or conflict

The result: Powerful and positive relationships that are built on a sustainable foundation of respect, trust and transparency.