Situation · Work
“My co-founder and I can't agree on anything anymore”
What could be going on
Negative sentiment override: Fits if even their neutral suggestions now look bad to you, and yours to them.
Role conflict and ambiguity: Check whether you ever agreed who decides what; overlapping authority breeds constant fights.
Doer and done to (Benjamin): Fits if each of you feels pushed around and the other must give in for anything to move.
Must win every argument: Fits if being right matters more than the decision to one or both of you.
Four horsemen (Gottman): Check for criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling; they predict partnerships breaking.
Conflict modes (Thomas-Kilmann): Your styles may clash, such as one competing and one avoiding; name each style.
Questions to carry
- Thinking of the last disagreement, when did we stop arguing about the issue and start arguing about each other?
- Which earlier hurt between us am I bringing into each new disagreement?
Also said as
- co-founder conflict is killing the company
- my business partner and I fight about everything
- we used to be aligned and now every decision is a battle
- should I split with my co-founder
- constant fighting with my co-founder
- my business partner and I disagree on every decision