• Be realistic about personal ability and expectations.

When running a business with your spouse, there is a high temptation to make unrealistic promises from a genuine desire to improve the business and make your partner happy. Sadly, it is frustrating to have a spouse who promises to complete some tasks within a given time and does not deliver as promised. Unmet promises or expectations tamper with trust. You don’t want you or your partner to learn not to rely on each other. Don’t be ashamed or too excited to admit that you cannot do something when you can’t. Be realistic about what you can and can’t do and seek help on time.  

• Focus on growth than flaws

There is nothing as calming as running a business with a positive spouse. Start-ups are usually stressful. The last thing anyone needs is a spouse that worsens a stressful situation. The temptation to blame one’s spouse often is high, but it should be avoided. Start-ups are a learning curve for everyone involved in the business, and mistakes will be made. No couple can run a successful business together by exonerating themselves of blame and heaping it on their spouses. 

• Develop conflict resolution skills

Your success, sanity, and marriage hang on a pendulum the moment you decide to co-own a business with your spouse. A bad working relationship with your spouse could drown some valuable parts of your life. Did you know that the divorce rate amongst entrepreneurs goes as high as 43-48%? The earlier you and your spouse become committed to resolving conflicts maturely, the better for both of you and the business.

• Improve your communication skill

Your entire business revolves around effective communication. This one skill will work wonders for you and your spouse. No working relationship can thrive where there is poor communication. 

If you’re the type of person that hoards information or gives bad attitudes to people instead of communicating your grievance, you need to work on yourself. 

Effective communication starts with paying attention to what, how, when, and where you say what you say.

• “What you say” involves being mindful of your words and their possible interpretations.
• “How you say it” focuses on the tone of your voice, body and facial expressions.
• “When and where you say it” involves proper timing and accessing prevailing circumstances before saying what you say.  

If you are not ready to listen attentively and respond kindly to your spouse, you cannot run a business with them.

• Be willing to do more than your share of work.

In situations where your partner lacks the motivation to work, whether it be a blue day, fight day, or chill day for them; whether it be the worst possible day for you and the business; you need to prepare your mind to fill their shoes without letting it affect your working relationship.

It is very easy to fall into the trap of blaming and punishing your spouse excessively for absenting themselves from the business or failing to meet deadlines. Sadly, such actions would only widen the rift between you two. During trying days, your mindset should be, how can I make a difficult or stressful situation better for myself and everyone involved in the business? Be willing to help your spouse out when they cannot perform optimally.

• Learn to accept and deal with criticism

One of the disadvantages of running a business with your spouse is receiving harsh criticism from them. They know your flaws as their spouse, and they’re still exposed to more of your shortcomings as a business owner. During tense situations, there is a high chance that your spouse will highlight your flaws, which will hurt you. Criticisms sting a lot more when it’s coming from a spouse.  But the good side to the criticism is that there is a high chance that your spouse is being truthful to you. 

Exercise self-control, no matter how hurt your spouse’s criticism makes you feel. Don’t take your annoyance home and unleash it on your family. It ruins the mood and sanity of your marriage, opening up a pandora’s box to other issues. 

• Invest in your workspace.

Conducive working space can make a world of difference in your working relationship. You and your spouse do not need to always be in each other’s faces. A good workspace will help both of you maintain a good level of respect and encourage productivity in the business. 

• Make time to play.

If you wish to work in a business with your spouse successfully, you must give time to play. Time for fun is as important as time for serious business. Fun time allows spouses to iron out differences and get back on the same team. The last thing you want is a partner who resents you because of some unresolved issues you’ve probably forgotten about. 

Another important point to remember about playtime is that it should not revolve around your free time. Your spouse will not find that move funny. 

• Make financial decisions together.

Money is the root of many conflicts in co-owned businesses. Many leading partners often override the approval of their spouses when making financial decisions. Such an action breeds the feeling of disrespect, lack of trust towards a spouse, and little sense of ownership in the business. If you are not ready to get financial approval from your spouse before making decisions in the business, you cannot work in a business with your spouse.

Frequently Asked Questions.

• Can couples work together in a company?

Yes. Many companies have spouses working in various capacities for them. Everything depends on the company’s policy and the type of job spouses apply for. Many informal and semi-formal businesses have more flexible policies. They usually employ people based on referrals, regardless of if the referral is related to the person working for them. There are also instances where spouses work for the same formal company but different branches/ franchises. Sadly, there are no statistics of businesses with spouses working for them. 

• Why do companies not hire spouses?

Companies that do not allow spouses to work for them do so based on their policy. They wish to avoid spousal conflicts or prohibited affairs/ behavior from happening in their organizations and promote more seriousness.

Conclusion.

Working in a business with your spouse could be the best or worst decision ever. Be intentional, realistic, and open-minded when deciding to run a business with your spouse.