Ostensibly, a partnership is an ideal way to bring two necessary but different skill-sets together. After all, it makes sense to join various strengths in order to form an alliance. Such an arrangement seems like it will yield fruitful results. However, far more partnerships fail than succeed. There are many obvious reasons why this happens. But, it’s not always so clear-cut. So, let’s take a look at some subtle telltale signs that a partnership is in trouble. The Biggest Partnership Dangers Dave Ramsey has made famous his five dangerous D’s of partnerships: death, disability, disinterest, drugs, and divorce. Of those, only one makes the list below. That’s because it’s not always crystal clear that something is awry. You generally spend more waking hours at work than at home, which means you have more opportunities to interact with your business partner and the nature of your interactions tend to be more intense, with more potential for conflict because there are so many external variables that are beyond your control. —Forbes.com There are scenarios when very subtle factors are in play. Unfortunately, most business people miss these signals put out by their partners. Eventually, they become more pronounced and at that point, it is usually too late to save the enterprise. 3 Signs a Business Partnership is in Jeopardy When a business partner goes through a very difficult time in his or her life, it’s usually quite easy to see the writing on the wall. But, there are instances when there are no overt problems or issues. Here are three subtle yet serious signs a business partnership is in trouble: Apathetic. Let’s begin with the only sign that makes the list above — disinterest. This can manifest in two different but similar forms: distraction and apathy. A lack of concern and focus can wreak loads of havoc on a business. Before you know it, the onus falls on you alone. That’s when you’ll realize your partner is no longer interested in participating. And, by this time, it usually causes an irreversible rift. Autonomy. On the opposite side of the spectrum is autonomy. Sure, being able to operate independently is typically a good thing. Except when there’s far too much of it. So much, you find out about key decisions well after the fact. This is a sign that unpleasant news is most likely on its way to you. Elusive. This is a very tough one and perhaps, the most frustrating of the two because it’s so difficult to understand. When your partner becomes elusive, that is to say, overzealous one moment and indifferent the next, you’ll struggle to cope with why. This will only lead to unnecessary disruptions and make the partnership unsustainable. What other signs would you add to the list? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Decision fatigue. It’s a phenomenon which probably affects you. Yet, you’re not truly aware of it. Put another way, you’ve likely felt its impact, but just didn’t know what to make of it. Or, more particularly, what to call it. That’s okay. It’s something many people experience a few times. Others are hit with it a lot — a whole lot. Usually, these are individuals in positions of authority. You know, the “decision makers.” Although we joke about it, the truth of the matter is, making decisions gets harder and harder as the day goes on. So, let’s look at some ways to avoid decision fatigue. Is Decision Fatigue Actually Real? The short answer to the question above is a resounding, “Yes!” Decision fatigue is real. In fact, two university researchers examined more than 1,000 decisions made by judges in Israel. Said judges either decided to grant or to deny parole. Prisoners who appeared in the morning, about 9 am, fared quite well. Those offenders had a 70 percent chance of making parole. Decision fatigue can seem harmless enough. Spending a few extra minutes deciding between chicken or beef isn’t the end of the world. But what you may not realize is that those little moments of turmoil could be negatively impacting your business. If left unchecked, decision fatigue can lead to reckless behavior like compulsive spending or, worse, the inability to make any decisions at all. —CNBC.com But, by the time mid-afternoon rolled around, those chances dropped down to just 10 percent. The conclusion, of course, was the judges simply used-up their stamina and therefore, took the simplest and safest way out. Ways to Avoid Decision Fatigue Now, if you’ve ever felt “used-up” at the end of the day, like your brain can’t process any more, decision fatigue is a likely culprit. Here are a few suggestions for how to avoid decision fatigue to better your work performance: Start tomorrow today. At the end of every day, start getting things in order for the next morning. Don’t make big decisions. Just get organized so you’re ready to go when you come back tomorrow. While this might seem too simple, it will have a big impact. Make important decisions early. When you start your day, don’t “ease” into it. Instead, challenge yourself by making the most important decisions when you’re most fresh and have new energy. You’ll see things more clearly and have a better sense of which way to go. Stop second-guessing yourself. In the military, some class instructors tell their students to bite the erasers off of their pencils right before starting a test. It’s not literal — it’s a figure of speech. It means your first intuition is typically the right one; so, don’t second-guess yourself. Snack and exercise every day. It’s a very good practice to have a solid but sensible breakfast in the morning. A light lunch is also a sound practice. But, you might feel a bit worn by mid-afternoon. The cure? Exercise and have a small snack to re-energize. What other ways do you combat decision fatigue? Please share your experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Super-small businesses face many challenges. Not the least of which is manpower.