How to Handle Toxic Partnerships
Are you in a toxic partnership? Business or even personal?
Unfortunately, I believe that ADHD Entrepreneurs experience these more than others. How do toxic partnerships impact our personal and professional lives. This is an environment that feels isolation, but trust me, it’s more common than you think.
Many of us, as ADHD Entrepreneurs, often face situations where our partnerships go sour. We usually dive head-first into ventures, driven by passion and enthusiasm. But when things start to unravel, the fallout can be extensive and overwhelming.
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Learning from Personal Experience
I sat down with Paul Gardner, the president of Rock Solid Supply, and we explored the complexities of dealing with toxic partnerships – yes all based on our personal experiences. Paul shared his journey, starting with the acquisition of a company in 2018. What seemed like a promising venture quickly turned toxic over the next five years, affecting both his personal and work life.
I shared my own experiences dealing with toxic partnerships in my first engineering company. Imagine trusting someone deeply only to realize they manipulate and pit you against the other partners. I noticed my behaviour was changing. I became more irritable and reactive because I felt cornered and manipulated. My health was deteriorating to the point where I counted down the days to a possible heart attack. The stress was unmistakably affecting my personal life, pushing me to make necessary changes.
Breaking the Toxic Cycle
Reflecting on these experiences, Paul and I discussed the importance of recognizing toxic environments quickly and taking decisive action. Toxicity doesn’t just affect the individuals directly involved; it ripples out, impacting team dynamics and personal relationships. Often, we try various tactics to address the issue—open discussions, setting boundaries, bringing in mediators—but sometimes it all boils down to making the hard decision of parting ways.
Paul emphasized that recognizing and terminating toxic client relationships can be just as important. A client who exploits your internal conflicts can contribute significantly to the toxicity. Ending these relationships, though challenging, can lead to a more positive environment for your team and yourself. Sometimes, your presence creates the toxicity even though you are not causing it.
Embracing Introspection and Feedback
One of the key takeaways from Paul is the value of introspection and feedback from fellow ADHD Entrepreneurs. Talking to others who have been through similar challenges can provide insights and strategies that you might not have considered. At the very least, you feel heard and understood – not alone.
And here’s a nugget of wisdom: listen to your body and gut feelings—they’re often the first indicators that something is off. When stress becomes a physical presence, it’s a sign that you need to address the underlying issues quickly. Most times, when you get to physical stress state, the end is inevitable.
Healthy Environment, Happy Team
Paul shared how important it is to create a work environment that aligns with your personal values and encourages team empowerment. By reflecting on past experiences, you can better shape your leadership style and company culture. For instance, Paul’s company values "delivering happiness," inspired by the Apple playbook, was implemented because of the toxic cultures he experienced previously.
Allowing team members to transition into roles that suit their strengths and passions is a process to remove future toxicity. This not only leads to higher job satisfaction but also fosters a supportive and positive work environment.
Path to Wellness
Taking the time to reflect, write, and understand where things went wrong is vital for moving forward. Reflecting on past mistakes and learning from them can pave the way for a better future. If you don’t like the word ‘mistake’, then reflect on past bad decisions.
Both Paul and I agree that consulting with a psychologist or mentor can be incredibly beneficial during tough transitions. Having an external perspective helps in recognizing manipulative behaviors and finding ways to address them effectively.
Stepping Away Can Be the Best Move
When dealing with toxic partnerships, the decision to step back can feel like a failure, but it’s often the necessary move for your well-being. I found stepping away from my engineering business to be initially painful, but ultimately it is a rewarding decision. It’s not about giving up; it’s about prioritizing your talents, happiness, energy, health and future success.
Paul emphasized that leaving a toxic environment allows you to redirect your energy into creating a positive work culture where both you and your team can thrive. It’s not selfish to demand a healthier, more fulfilling work life; it’s a prerequisite for long-term success.
Final Thoughts
As ADHD Entrepreneurs, we must continuously cultivate a mindset of growth and introspection. Toxic partnerships can drain our resources and energy, but they also offer valuable lessons. By promptly addressing these issues and leaning on our community for support, we can create healthier, more successful ventures. Remember, toxic team members affect your culture, not only partners.
What has been your experience with toxic partnerships? How have you navigated through these challenges?
Further Exploration
The ADHD Simplified™ Course has launched and it’s working wonders. Clients have shared how it’s changing their lives. Curious to learn more? Visit our website for more details. Remember, ADHD is only a part of you, not all of you.
Overcome time blindness by downloading The Sh!t List™, my free weekly planning tool to help focus your time.
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