If your relationship with your cofounder fails, your startup usually does, too. In fact, 55% of startups fail due to fallout between cofounders*.
That’s because your cofounder is more than your business partner—your relationship with them affects not only the success of your startup, but the quality of your life, as well as that of your employees.
A clear, open relationship with your cofounder is critical to a well-functioning office, since its qualities often trickle down through the rest of the company. When you’re able to communicate clearly with your cofounder, you set an example for your entire staff.
Starting a business with someone creates a unique dynamic that can be tricky to navigate without outside guidance—cofounders often begin as friends who then have to learn how to balance the personal with the professional in their relationship.
That’s why cofounder counseling can have such a positive impact on your business. This method of counseling focuses on helping both you and your partner become confident, mindful leaders who know how to communicate, ensuring that you always know if you’re on the same page. **
*Source: Gompers, Paul A., William Gornall, Steven N. Kaplan, and Ilya A. Strebulaev. "How Do Venture Capitalists Make Decisions?" NBER Working Paper Series, No. 22587, September 2016. **Attribution credit to Linus Streckfus, LPC, NCC for helping to craft this program.
“What Does Cofounder Counseling Look Like?”
Cofounder counseling usually takes the form of a weekly, face-to-face meeting with your cofounder and your coach, with additional support between sessions when needed.
Each session is 2 hours long, and during that time you’ll work through issues to help you further realize and manifest your start-up’s values, benefits, and ultimate success.
Here’s what a cofounder counselor might work on with you and your team:
- Building custom frameworks for difficult conversations
- Establishing decision-making strategies
- Recognizing and resolving patterns that keep you stuck
- Working through conflict
- Balancing the personal and professional parts of your relationship
- Increasing confidence and collaboration
- Managing stress—for you, your cofounder, and your team
Meet the Team
The therapists below specialize in Cofounder Counseling.
Testimonials
"The counseling/coaching has been great. Audrey really listens and I feel energized when I leave after appointments with her."
"I had the opportunity to meet with my coach and to determine whether we fit together before initiating an agreement. Our meeting schedule is flexible enough to allow adjustments when conflicts arise but rigid enough to ensure that we stay in regular contact. I leave each meeting with new insight into how I can build better relationships with my colleagues and to improve my performance in so many ways."
"Audrey has been a great coach and secure base, helping me to accelerate my personal development for the better. She is not afraid to face into difficult conversations, has a wealth of experience, great intuition and listens brilliantly allowing her to provide excellent contributions and support."
Eva Escobedo and William Schroeder of Just Mind Counseling have each been quoted in the New York Times in articles about therapy.
Just Mind Counseling was quoted in Business Insider about "How to Support Employees Mental Health During Coronavirus."
William Schroeder was interviewed by the Harvard Business Review on how to “Stop Second Guessing Decisions at Work.“
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“What’s the Difference Between Cofounder and Couples Counseling?”
Couples counseling focuses primarily on intimacy in relationships—feeling safe, seen, and secure. Cofounder counseling may touch on those issues, but its primary focus is collaboration and leadership.
Here’s a quick overview of how these practices differ:
A couples counselor helps you and your romantic partner:
- Acknowledge and recognize each other’s deepest personal needs and longings
- Establish trust and intimacy
- Resolve conflict
- Validate each other’s concerns
A cofounder counselor helps you and your business partner:
- Be proactive in your relationship and business
- Play well with others
- Identify and work with issues around power, control, and competition
- Strategize systems to deal with conflict
Curious if Cofounder Counseling is right for you?
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