LibraryScenariosHow to address unspoken identity dynamics in business partnerships
Scenario

How to address unspoken identity dynamics in business partnerships

My business partner handles all our client relationships and I focus on the technical work, but I've started noticing that clients always assume he's in charge even when I'm leading the project. We've never talked about how gender and race might be affecting our business dynamics and I don't know how to bring it up.

Juana
Online
The coach is replying

More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

External perceptions can create internal power imbalances that partners haven't explicitly agreed to but find themselves navigating anyway.

Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Human rights framework?”

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.