In our last post, we recommended preparation steps for the scheduled client partner meeting to discuss your difficult situation, and reviewed an approach when your team was responsible for the original issue. This next installment covers what to do when your partner is at fault, and how to survive either of these two scenarios.

We know you’ve been there—something did not go as planned and conflict has arisen. It happens in business, because business occurs between human beings. Your response to these situations can make or break your client partnership, so your initial steps in preserving your partnership are crucial. Since this post builds on concepts presented in “Being a Partner 201: Recognizing Your Partner”, please start there.

After an initial interaction with a prospective client, I immediately know if this is an organization with whom our company can partner. How do I know? From a strictly business sense, we have the skills and experience to recognize a need that we can fill, and fill well. Yet, there is another, more interpersonal aspect of organizational match and agreement on establishing a path of success that are just as important for a true partnership. As with the start of any deep, committed relationship, what you do in the first meeting is crucial. If you are looking for tips on recognizing true partner material, read on!