Since I'm part of a husband-and-wife business team, I often get asked what it's like to work with my spouse. Truthfully, it can be both stressful and rewarding. After years of being partners in both the bedroom and the boardroom, we have discovered many ways to keep our partnership peaceful and profitable. If you find yourself in the tricky situation of working with your spouse or loved one, you might benefit from a few of these tried-and-true tips yourself:
- Avoid Becoming Mommy & Dad at Work: Chances are, you and your spouse are already accustomed to Mommy & Daddy roles at home. Perhaps one of you plays the disciplinarian, while the other plays the comforter. It's very easy to bring these parenting personas into the workplace. But it's important to avoid becoming Mommy & Daddy figures to your employees. Show a united front to your employees and co-workers, and don't set up a paradigm in which Mom says No, but Daddy might say Yes.
- Keep it Professional: Even though you're husband and wife, nobody wants to see any PDA by the coffeemaker! If you want your office to view you with professional respect, you must institute a hands-off policy from 9 to 5. Nicknames like "Baby" and "Hot Lips" should also wait until after work. And avoid bringing family drama into the workplace -- the office cafeteria is not the place to re-hash a weekend fight. Remember, when it comes to office gossip, even the walls have ears -- so do you really want your co-workers to know about your husband's problems with your mother-in-law? Keep your conversations professional, especially when others are in earshot.
- Beware "Special Treatment": At some point, you're likely to encounter an employee or a co-worker who doesn't hit it off with your spouse. Or vice versa -- some employee or a co-worker might not be crazy about you. Both you and your spouse need to be cautious in this situation. Be sure you don't take punitive actions against the employee in question, unless the situation truly merits it. Remember in grade school when the teacher's kid always received special attention? Your officemates will be very wary about anything that looks like special treatment for your spouse. So make life easier on yourself -- don't get involved in office politics, even if your spouse is in the center of the ring.
- Appreciate the Joys: Working with your loved one can be stressful, but it can also be very satisfying. You get to share the same joys and disappointments, and you each have the satisfaction of working toward the same goal. Of course you also spend more quality time together, either on your lunch hour or on coffee breaks. A shared commute is not only cost-effective, it can help bond you and solidify your friendship. Just make sure you still invest in alone time outside of work, so that you don't become bored or annoyed with each other.
Working together can be a great joy for husband and wife. Many dedicated and loving couples enjoy the thrill and satisfaction that comes from sharing the same interests and passions. Working with someone you love and respect can also boost your creativity and happiness in the workplace. As the English writer John Ruskin once said: "When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece."
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