Two people sometimes stop arguing because they have reached an agreement or compromise. Sometimes the argument never ends simply because neither person will change their mind. Instead, they just decide merely to tolerate the other person’s opinion. This situation is known as ‘agreeing to disagree.’ In a partnership, agreeing to disagree can hurt more than a personal relationship.
Long-term Disagreements and Your Partnership’s Future
Generally, partners need to have a similar vision for the company and even share the same values. If you are simply agreeing to disagree about core goals, your company may suffer. It’s difficult to head into the future when you do not agree on what that future should look like.
Consider speaking with your company’s lawyer or corporate counsel about negotiating disagreements before they go too far.
Loyalty Takes a Back Seat
Employees usually sense dissension, even when it is going on behind closed doors or away from the office. By agreeing to disagree instead of agreeing to a resolution, employees may be confused about the company’s mission and day-to-day operations. Even worse, they may begin to take sides. Loyalty to the company may become loyal to one partner over another. This break in loyalty can only hurt your partnership and your company. Key employees may become so uncomfortable that they leave for a hopefully more peaceful workplace.
Customers Sense Trouble in Your Partnership
In some situations, even customers may notice there’s trouble. Maybe they start receiving conflicting information from the partners or feel that employees do not know how to handle their orders. Such confusion could be disastrous, especially if your partnership’s “agree-to-disagree” situation affects customer service, sales, and marketing.
Continuous disagreement over key issues could cause a noticeable lack of focus on what’s good for the partnership itself. You may soon notice that employees and customers are not the only people taking notice.
Competitors Seek a Foot in the Door
Especially in highly-competitive industries, other business owners may be looking for any chink in your company’s figurative armor. As rumors reach other players, they may use your “agreeing to disagree” as a way to move in on your business. One way to avoid this happening is to settle disagreements, and your corporate counsel or business lawyer may be able to help.
‘Agreeing to Disagree’ May Sound Okay, But Could Hurt Your Partnership in the Long Run
Even the strongest partners occasionally will find themselves at loggerheads. You may consider a compromise, but ending the partnership is also a viable option. If you get to this point, definitely have a business lawyer review your partnership agreement as soon as possible.
Attorney Richard Sierra at the Florida Small Business Center assists clients like you with business and litigation matters. As always, our goal is to help you succeed. For an appointment, you may call us at 1-866-842-5202 or use the contact form on our website. From our Coral Springs office, we represent clients throughout the State of Florida.