Building Trust and Honesty in Co-Founding Partnerships

Building a successful startup is a journey, and finding the right co-founder can be compared to finding a life partner. After more than a year of working with my incredible co-founder, Shipra Mathur I've come to realize that a co-founder relationship is indeed like a marriage - built on trust and hope for success. Shipra and I met on the Clubhouse app, where we connected over our shared passion for South Asian influence. Little did we know that this chance encounter would lead to something remarkable. We started following each other on Instagram, supporting and cheering each other on without really knowing much about each other's background. A few months later, we discovered that we were actually neighbors. It seemed like fate brought us together as we decided to take a leap of faith and become partners to create Monday Chill. It only took three meetings for our dream to become a reality, and the journey has been nothing short of amazing. Over this period, I've learned invaluable lessons from Shipra. Her unwavering dedication, care, relationship-building skills, and go-getter attitude have been instrumental in Monday Chill's journey. Here are some of the key principles that have made our co-founder relationship thrive: 1️⃣ Unity of Purpose: Ego has no place in our partnership. We both share a common goal to make our business successful. When differences of opinions arise, we prioritize the best idea, not the person behind it. 2️⃣ Objectivity in Decision-making: Keeping things objective is crucial. We base our discussions on what our consumers will love, rather than personal preferences. 3️⃣ Transparent Communication: Communication is the lifeblood of our partnership. We don't wait to convey our thoughts and catch up daily to reflect on our goals and progress. It's a continuous process, not a monthly formality. 4️⃣ Mutual Support: Trust is at the core of our relationship. When one of us needs a break, the other steps in to cover and ensure work doesn't suffer. We have each other's backs, no matter the circumstances. Not every co-founder relationship needs to be this close or personal, but I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a true family in Shipra. As we navigate the future together, I want her to know that she has a family in me, and we're in this journey as equal partners, no matter what comes our way. #CoFounderAppreciationDay #StartupJourney #CoFounder #entrepreneurship

I had a celebratory moment in my co-founder session the other day. I saw a telltale sign that these cofounders had achieved a top 1% level of co-founder trust. Here’s what happened: One of the founders said, “I’m not sure if I’ll be happy in my role of COO as the company scales. I may be happier as an IC after our Series B.” ⚡⚡⚡ Why does this acknowledgment of role uncertainty matter so much? When there is low trust between partners (and co-executives), people are incredibly defensive and protective of their titles. This is problematic because not sharing feelings and doubts makes it hard to solve key organizational issues as the company scales. What I see frequently is that when a co-founder shares this concern openly with their partner, it actually has the inverse effect—it makes it more likely that they will be able to work through their concerns and keep their current title! But, even when that’s not the case, this vulnerable admission that a current role may not last forever has an incredible impact on the range of what a co-founder pair feels is acceptable to talk openly about. Are you a co-founder or business partner? Ask yourself "Do I think I will be in my current role forever? If not, am I ok saying this to my partner?" No need to go say it now, but use this as a reflection of where more trust can be had. And if you’re in the early-stages of your co-founder relationship, embrace this topic from the get go. Admit to your co-founder(s) that the role you have today WILL NOT be the role you have in 5 years and make that ok. Let me know, have you had this conversation with your co-founder? How did it go?

I have worked with Coach Nephi Niven for the past 4 years, which has greatly improved my emotional intelligence for better relationships and business outcomes, as well as my overall emotional well-being. Here are the key characteristics I consider when building relationships with founders, teammates, and partners: 1. Self-awareness: Understanding how your emotions impact your thoughts and behaviors, recognizing strengths and weaknesses, and their influence on partnerships. 2. Self-regulation: Controlling impulsive feelings and behaviors, managing emotions during challenging situations and navigating uncertainty and change. 3. Motivation: Being resilient and maintaining motivation in the face of difficulties, cultivating positive energy even in less-than-ideal circumstances. 4. Empathy: Putting yourself in others' shoes, actively listening to understand their feelings based on what they express. 5. Social skills: Effectively communicating through conflict, expressing thoughts and concerns openly and respectfully to prevent misunderstandings and resolve issues promptly. 6. Relationship management: Investing time and effort to build and maintain healthy relationships, inspiring and influencing others while addressing conflicts when they arise. 7. Trustworthiness: Being reliable, transparent, and honest, consistently following through on commitments. These qualities are important to me when seeking partnerships. What characteristics do you prioritize when building partnerships?