What Makes a Perfect Business Partner?

The wheels in my head are spinning at full speed these days.

Every couple of months I get inspired with a new personal project and once again, it’s that time of the year.  This time, that personal project is a new business idea.  I won’t get into specifics about it (yet) but I’ll tell you it’s somewhat of an extension of my business as a web designer/developer.

I have decided that in order to give it the best chance of success, I will seek to bring two partners in on this venture.  I’m looking for one rockstar designer and one ninja developer to compliment my strengths and weaknesses in both of these areas.

What am I looking for in a partner?

Well the obvious point is to seek those who display skills that rise above the rest.  But creative and technical skill are not at the top of my list of criteria.

The key factor in my search for the perfect business partner(s) is stellar communication skills.  I value this above all else.  In fact, the importance of strong communication skills plays a major role in most areas of my professional and personal life.

I believe the biggest reason my clients continue to work with me and send referrals my way is my ability to communicate every aspect of their projects clearly and effectively. I make myself available, approachable, and receptive to any and all questions and concerns.  Then I go the extra mile to ensure everything I say or write is comprehended and well received.  My clients appreciate this approach and I feel better knowing we’re always on the same page.

Communication in other places

When things between my girlfriend and I hit a rough patch, I always insist we talk it out immediately rather than let things fester.  Letting frustrations sit unresolved only compounds them.  Communication is key.

When dealing with customer service for things like my cable company or a web hosting account, the level of communication makes or breaks my relationship with them.  I can’t begin to tell you how much it pisses me off when a customer service rep clearly doesn’t care about talking with me to resolve whatever issue I’m having with their product.  Optimum online (an NYC cable provider) and J&R electronics have lost my business for this reason.  Hostmonster web hosting has kept my business for years (plus many of my referrals) because of their top-notch phone support.

Say it with me: Communication is key.

The Partnership

As you can see, communication is the key ingredient to the type of business partnership I’m looking for.

The ideal business partner will display a strong commitment to communication with every correspondence, beginning from the very first email, instant message, or phone call (remember phone calls?).

That means:

• Writing in complete, grammatically correct sentences.
• Speaking clearly with a positive and professional attitude.
• Listening and building on what I’m saying to them.  After all, this partnership will involve a great deal of creative collaboration.
• Displaying strong copywriting on their personal blog or portfolio.

The perfect partner won’t just be interested and dedicated to a successful partnership.  They will communicate that interest and dedication every step of the way.