Relationship between the founders is the cornerstone of the company’s corporate policy. This foundation is more critical than beautifully written documents. Oleg Krot, the co-founder of the international holding TECHIIA, told Entrepreneur how to build relationships from a position of trust and respect.
1. Assign responsibilities
Partners should complement but not overlap with each other. If partners look at things and problem-solving similarly and see the same way out of crises, this is more of a disadvantage than an advantage. Instead, the company will become more sustainable if everyone focuses on the area where they have the most expertise.
Different focuses are the key to healthy diversification. And it leads to increased business stability. Management-wise, this approach has a considerable advantage — subordinates know whom to ask questions. This seemingly insignificant detail saves time for the team and adds structure to the work of departments.
Another benefit of the division of responsibilities is that the partners maintain the necessary distance and therefore have space for development and search for non-standard solutions.
2. Don’t compete with your partner
Each partner has not only strong expertise but also weaknesses. Both professionally and personally. You need to pay more attention to those at the beginning of your cooperation. Specifically, to articulate them, discuss manifestations, and ways of interacting with each other’s weak sides.
If one starts exploiting the weaknesses of others to gain more executive power, it will instantly reflect on the company’s performance in the worst possible way.
Under no circumstances should you compete for a larger share of power at the expense of the other party’s interests. Instead, healthy interaction is crucial for a healthy microclimate in the company. If you want your colleagues to be a team that supports each other rather than pulling each other down, set an example with your partner.
Effective and efficient relationships are possible between equal partners. Based on the strength and scale of personality, experience, and charisma. Even if the discussion gets heated, it’s not a problem, as friction leads to the best solutions.
3. Give yourself and your partner the right to make mistakes
Mistakes and bad decisions are a natural part of both business and human life. If partners argue over every mistake, the company can quickly go bankrupt.
Practical work on mistakes is a calm conversation about what went wrong and at what point. How to act in a similar situation the next time, and what not to do again.
Developing a healthy attitude towards mistakes is a matter of experience. It’s important to realize this and allocate as much time as needed.
4. Enjoy the joint work
Unlike romantic relationships, business partnerships are aimed at making money, and only then comes everything else. However, it is the emotional component that helps to get through the most challenging times without losing what you have worked for over the years.
 Trust, a foundation of healthy relationships, is formed through an interest in the person, mutual support in moments of failure and trouble, sincerity and concern in the partner, and admiration for their talents. It is a good sign if a person feels happy and peaceful in collaboration. Â
To check yourself, consider whether you, as partners, are interested in discussing something outside of work. Do you enjoy sharing research, books, and new ideas with each other?
TECHIIA is an international technology holding founded by Yura Lazebnikov and Oleg Krot. The company combines expertise in more than 10 business areas, including the development of IT products and services, creation, distribution, and sale of content, development, and sale of merchandise, services based on unmanned technologies, innovative construction technologies, and more. The company’s offices are located in Cyprus, the USA, and Ukraine.
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