THE CONFESSION:
“I’m putting in more hours than my Co-Founder and it’s starting to grate on me.”
I get that it's not just about time at the office, but I can't help feeling frustrated. My main annoyance is that my Co-Founder doesn't acknowledge the imbalance or appreciate the work I’m doing.
I need to address it but I don't know how to bring it up without it feeling confrontational and childish?”
This is an interesting topic as I often see these seemingly small, everyday niggles between Co-Founders build into something deeper.
Firstly, be wary of making assumptions as we all work differently. Some people love structure, some don’t. Is your partner doing more work out the office that you don’t see? Be mindful and ask questions as maybe there’s more going on.
How do you feel about wanting your work acknowledged? Hey, we’re all human, I understand the desire for our contributions to be seen. But what are you seeking? Praise? Validation? Reassurance? Think about how you could take control and find ways to give yourself that pat on the back.
Acceptance also plays a role here. Accepting that being a Co-Founder means there’s more than one individual in the mix, and if you were identical, there’d be no point in having both of you. So if you want this partnership, how can you work to find value in your differences?
I understand though that you want to find a way to express this and feel more balanced. So what end result do you want? Your Co-Founder does more, you do less, or it stays the same but your work is acknowledged? Be clear on this before you map out a conversation.
Then think about how this can be constructive. You say you don’t want it to be confrontational or childish, why do you think it might be? Are you pulling on past experiences here? It’s up to you how you go into this conversation and the energy you bring.
Can this be discussed through the lens of wanting to reset roles and responsibilities for 2024, looking at your workflows, optimising your output, mapping out routines and office time together etc? Sitting together and mapping this out (and even allocating estimated time to each responsibility?) can make it feel less personal and more objective.
Let’s see the silver lining. A huge draw of being a Founder is being in charge of your schedule. So how do you want your week to look? Because that choice is yours, and perhaps this is a chance to reset and consciously chose your working routines going forward.
A QUESTION FOR YOU ALL TO ASK YOUR CO-FOUNDERS:
DO OUR INDIVIDUAL WORKING STYLES WORK WELL TOGETHER?
Co-Founder Spotlight
Maria and Marina, Co-Founders of:
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What’s the best thing about your Co-Founder partnership?
MARIA
We have the same values and personal aspirations. Most of the time (not always!), we are on the same page when it comes to where we want to take our company or what we want to achieve long-term. On a personal level, we care deeply about each other and are both eager to make progress in a way that works with the other’s schedule, other commitments and general happiness.
MARINA
We are both driven by the same goal, which is professional and personal self-realization. As a result, we are always on the lookout for ways to improve our business and our day-to-day. It is so incredibly rare to meet someone who motivates you and pushes you and when that person is your friend and co-founder, I say it’s a win.
What’s challenging about it?
MARIA
The biggest challenge is definitely carving out time to talk about things other than work. We are both so excited about everything we are building and trying to achieve, which means that we are texting and calling about work non-stop!
MARINA
The pressure of being responsible for and to each other. There’s a stronger urge to give my all to everything we do because I know that, if I delay something or make a mistake, this will affect not just me, but also my best friend - and I just can’t let that happen. As a result, it’s sometimes hard to switch-off and just say that you’re done for the day. It’s not your usual 9 to 5.
How important is your partnership to your success?
MARIA
The most important. Building something with people you love and believe in is the most rewarding experience and such a driver to keep going. Having your best friend as your co-founder also ensures you can have full trust in the person you’re building your company with. You know they bring value and that they will always support you - and that’s maybe the hardest thing to find!
MARINA
It’s the very foundation of our success. Personally, I don’t think that I would be brave enough to walk down the entrepreneurship path if it wasn’t for Mia. I like to think that I would still get there at some point, but it would have certainly taken much longer. It is precisely our partnership that gives me the confidence to pursue our goals.
This edition was published on the 19th January 2024
