By Dale Avery
I wanted to spend some time today reflecting on partnerships.
We experience many versions and levels of partnerships in our lives. Most significant for me is the partnership I have with my spouse – the support we give each other and the amount of time we spend together and the life situations we work through continue to shape and grow our partnership. I have partnerships with my brothers in our farm ownership, co-workers, friends I work on non-profit boards with, mentors and educators. I would even consider the relationship I have with the guy that cuts my hair a “partnership” – I set an expectation that he works at to meet and I then work with the end product. As a result of the time we spend together in conversation – we have become partners in our walk with our faith and families, supporting each other’s decisions and situations.
As we focus on our partnerships in life we need to recognize the life experiences we filter our view of these relationships through. Is it not uncommon to feel the partnerships in our life are out of balance?That our efforts are greater than those of the other half of our partnerships. What have you done in the past to work through your tipped scales situations?
Our first step should be to look inward. We cannot pick the speck out of our partner’s eye without first removing the log from our own. Have we worked our hardest to provide the needed background and support to set them up for success? Have we clearly and without question communicated with a united front our goals, deadlines, and expectations? Have we considered their starting point, culture, expertise level, and abilities? Even if we feel we have exceeded in all of those steps, it never hurts to review and level set regardless of how far in to the project we are.
The next step is to take an honest look at our partner’s effort.Truly walk in their shoes. What have they provided thus far, what area are they lacking in, are there distractions that are taking them away for the work they have agreed to do for us? Really listen to what they have communicated about their resources, abilities, and product.
This being said – we all have faced disappointment in our past partnerships. Often as time wears on and frustrations escalate we find ourselves lowering our expectations of the outcome. We begin to write off the situation as a lost cause and an insurmountable roadblock. Consider leaning in to your experiences to better the outcome of this partnership! Be an encourager, celebrate the victories, and communicate the shortfalls with conviction. Then take a moment to put a positive spin on your new reality. You are responsible to do your best with the situation given to you right now. At the end of the day, lay your head down in peace knowing you did your best, and hopefully tomorrow you will get the opportunity to move the ball a little farther down the field.
Dale Avery, CPCU, is the assistant vice president – Enterprise Services at State Farm® Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington, Ill.
Avery began his career with State Farm in 1982 as a personal lines underwriter in Lincoln, Nebraska and assumed his current position in 2006. Avery, a native of Missouri, received his bachelor’s degree from Central Missouri State University. He earned his CPCU in 1991.
Dale resides in Bloomington with his wife, Laura and their two daughters; Megan and Jenna.
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