Business Education

My Spouse and I Opened a Business and it’s Ruining Our Marriage — What should We Do?

Couples often open businesses together because they recognize that two heads are better than one. It not only allows them to be their own bosses but is usually accompanied by the idea that a joint venture will strengthen their interpersonal relationships. After all, running a business together will mean they must be more open and communicative, and therefore it ought to bring them closer together as they work together on their shared dream. But, sometimes couples have very different ideas about how to build and run new businesses and this can easily lead to a lot of conflicts. Fortunately, there are some strategies couples can use if they are experiencing problems in their small businesses.

The Hidden ‘I’ in T-e-a-m

Make no mistake about it, every joint venture depends on individuals. Two or more people have to come together in a meeting of the minds and spirit in order to make it ultimately work. This starts with an individual choice to pool skills, talents, and resources together once this decision is made and forces are joined together, the business should have what it needs to succeed. However, sometimes individuals can’t get out of their own way and that’s when the problems begin.

When things get tough, refer back to your joint goals. Running a business isn’t easy, and when both you and your spouse are involved, that means your livelihood is hanging in the balance of the business you share. Instead of letting this fill you with stress and anxiety, instead, let it fill you with excitement and passion for the work you do. Be a support for each other, so when one of you gets stressed or worried, the other can remind you why you started. —Small Business Trends

In other words, there has to be the right mixture of individualism and teamwork in order to make the relationship work. For example, constantly jocking for power will eventually lead to serious issues. If one spouse tells their employees one thing and the other spouse contradicts that, there’s obviously going to the at least some confusion and conflict. This is why successful businesses have defined roles for everyone involved. Doing so greatly increases communication, productivity, and also expectations.

How Spouses can Successfully Run a Business Together

If you and your spouse are experiencing problems in your business that are affecting your personal relationship, you’re definitely not the first and won’t be the last. The good news is there are steps you can take to reduce or eliminate conflict, such as the following:

Mutually define individual roles. Both of you are responsible for running the business, but that doesn’t mean that both of you should be caring out the same roles. Take some time to talk over and outline your individual roles and responsibilities so there’s no miscommunication or unnecessary redundancy.
Layout and set your expectations. Each of you has an idea of what you want from the other. But unless you communicate that clearly, there’s no way to truly know what you want out of one another. This will take a little trial and error but you can eventually find tune it in this will be a huge help in running the business efficiently.
Leave home at home when you’re at work. There’s a reason that large corporations discourage romantic relationships between colleagues. When you bring your home life to work, you can expect to bring all of those issues into your place of business. Obviously, there’s no good that can come from this, so leave home at home while you’re at work.

What other ways can spouses resolve their problems while running a business together? Please share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your input. Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

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Edit Column To stand out in today’s crowded market, brands often need more than traditional advertising. Guerrilla marketing—a creative, surprise-driven approach—offers companies a unique edge by using imaginative tactics to make a lasting impression.

Guerrilla Marketing: Risky Gimmick or Good for Business? (And How To Use It in the Age of Social Media)

November 7, 2024 No Comments

To stand out in today’s crowded market, brands often need more than traditional advertising. Guerrilla marketing—a creative, surprise-driven approach—offers companies a unique edge by using imaginative tactics to make a lasting impression.

How to Deal with Employee Ghosting

July 15, 2018 No Comments

Employee ghosting is a scary situation. It’s spooky because it’s so awkward and strange. If you haven’t heard about employee ghosting, you’re certainly not alone. Although, it’s a trend which appears like it’s on the rise. Basically, this is a workplace phenomenon born from personal relationships in this day and age or IRL. (That’s In Real Life — BTW or By the Way.) And, it’s possible you might just face this particular scenario. So, it’s best to err on the side of caution and take proactive measures to limit the fallout. Employee Ghosting Explained Before we get to how to deal with it, let’s first explain employee ghosting. It’s simply when an established team member, a new employee, or a fresh hire doesn’t show up, without notice or any forewarning. It’s actually a practice that’s been present in the dating world for quite some time. One person simply up and disappears, without any indication. Poof. All communications are cut off, all of a sudden. In fields ranging from food service to finance, recruiters and hiring managers say a tightening job market and a sustained labor shortage have contributed to a surge in professionals abruptly cutting off contact and turning silent–the type of behavior more often associated with online dating than office life. —Inc.com This has found its way into the professional workplace. And, it raises a number of concerns. Of course, the first is being a person short. Then, there’s the matter of reconciling or trying to make sense of a nonsensical move. Moreover, it makes your team members wonder just what the ghost knows they don’t yet know themselves. In other words, just what reason could cause a person to up and disappear? How to Deal with Employee Ghosting Now, let’s get to dealing with employee ghosting. After all, if it does happen, you certainly don’t want to be caught totally off guard. Here are some helpful suggestions for how to deal with employee ghosting: Create a backup plan. At some point, you’re going to deal with a sudden change that comes out of nowhere. So, it’s best to have a plan in-place. Get with one or more team members and create a backup plan that’s reasonable and actionable so it can be implemented, if necessary. Be prepared to reward. Of course, if someone doesn’t show up, someone else will have to shoulder the load. Which means they’ll have to work more. Make it worthwhile by rewarding them appropriately. A gift card, an extra paid day off, or a bigger bonus. Create a high trust culture. When employees call in sick or they are late, handle this professionally and according to your policy with consistency, but don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill. The same is true with employee mistakes. Be careful to react negatively or to belittle an employee who has made an honest mistake because these negative acts cause employees to not disclose the truth and hide their mistakes … even not showing up for work for fear of retribution. A safe and healthy work environment with open communication helps to foster high trust in the work place. Formulate a way forward. You can’t just rely on a temporary stop-gap solution because it isn’t tenable. You’ll need to formulate a plan for how to transition and proceed in a way that isn’t too interruptive. Stay calm and breathe deep. It’s an unfortunate situation and an uncomfortable one, just like when you have to tell your employees you’ve fired someone. But, you can make it past the setback. Start by remaining calm. Take a deep breath and handle it coolly. Have you experienced this strange trend? How do you deal with it? Or, what other suggestions do you have? Please share your thoughts by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Most Tactful Strategies for Pushing Customer Deadlines Back without Upsetting Them

May 31, 2022 No Comments

As a business owner, you know that sometimes things come up that prevent you from meeting a customer deadline. Maybe there was an unexpected delay in getting the product or service finished, or maybe your team just got swamped with work. Whatever the reason, pushing back a customer deadline can be tricky business. You don’t want to upset them and lose their business, but you also don’t want them to feel like they’re being ignored or getting something that appears rushed. So, let’s discuss some of the most tactful ways to push back deadlines without upsetting your customers. Best Ways to Push Back Client Deadlines and Still Make Customers Happy One way to push back a deadline without upsetting your customer is to provide them with regular updates. Let them know what’s going on and why the deadline can’t be met. Customers appreciate transparency, and they’ll be more understanding if they know what’s going on. You should keep lines of communication open and stay in touch regularly. Don’t make the mistake of updating your client once and then going silent – it will only cause more problems. Missing a deadline is something that happens even to the best of us. Whether you got sick and couldn’t finish your tasks on time or the project took you much longer than expected, one thing is clear – you’re about to miss the deadline and need to communicate it to the client. —Simone Smith on Brain Leaf Another way to push back a deadline without upsetting your customer is to offer them a discount or some other type of compensation. This shows that you value their business and that you’re willing to go the extra mile to make up for any inconvenience. This doesn’t have to be a deep price reduction, but enough to show him or her you’re aware of their time and budget and are appreciative of their patience. Finally, one of the best ways to retain customers even when deadlines can’t be met is to provide excellent customer service. Be responsive, friendly, and helpful, and try to resolve any issues as quickly as possible. If you make an effort to take care of your customers, they’ll be more likely to stick with you even when things don’t go according to plan. Pushing back customer deadlines can be a delicate process, but if you handle it tactfully, you can retain your customers and keep them happy. By following these tips, you’ll be able to push back deadlines without upsetting your clients. It is of utmost importance to be honest with your customers, be upfront as soon as the situation changes, and be willing to accept some criticism. If you handle the circumstances with professionalism and tactfully, they’ll be far more willing to accommodate you and will greatly appreciate your candor. What other suggestions would you make about dealing with pushing client deadlines back without angering them? Please, take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your perspective! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.