For those who have worked with me, alongside me, for me, or anywhere near me over the past decade I doubt you would find a single one who did not know that the above is one of my favorite quotes.
As the managing director of SHIFT’s consulting arm, I have had the chance to work with nearly a 100 teams, 1,000 teammates, and 100,000+ customers. The one constant across all of them is when they are not empowered to talk or share their insights and feedback the product, the service, or the firm will suffer.
I have been fortunate enough to be in the room with founders of businesses, major shareholders, board of directors, and numerous business partners and I can tell you in nearly every instance, regardless of size, regardless of industry, the ones that are really growing, the ones that are really pushing the envelope and the ones that are really striving to reaching their vision exemplify this quote:
“When two men in business always agree, one of them is unnecessary.”
It resonates quite strongly. There is discord, there is healthy friction and continual challenge of both status quo and proposed direction, but at the end of the day that is what makes people, teams and companies successful as the total is nearly always more valuable than just the sum of the parts.
I can assure you, the relationship I have with my two business partners, Joe Mechlinski and Misti Aaronson, are the reason SHIFT is off to our best start to a year ever. Besides having a GREAT team behind us, Joe, Misti, and I continue to push and challenge each other instead of just agreeing (which frankly, feels like the easier thing to do sometimes) and if you haven’t debated with Joe and Misti, I invite you to 1407 Fleet Street anytime!
But if you’re going to debate, or disagree with your business partner (or mine) you must follow these rules:
- Allow enough time so that no one feels rushed
- Be polite and listen thoughtfully
- Let them know you’re listening by asking thoughtful and challenging questions (think devil’s advocate)
- Make commitments and establish next steps
- Follow through, every time
- Leave unified
Okay, now that you know the rules of engagement—go disagree with someone!
Jeremy Steinberg is Partner and Managing Director for SHIFT and has worked with the C-level and executive leadership teams in more than 400 diverse organizations. His goals are to strengthen team productivity by creating customized growth strategies, managing change, reviving culture through on-site work including training and certification programs which help organizations increase their leadership and reach their goals.
