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So what if your co-worker is actually your partner? Or given the pandemic, maybe you suddenly started sharing a remote workspace together, even with separate careers. Can working together that closely be too much of a good thing? Let’s get to know the common pitfalls for couples who work together, so you can avoid them. Here are the keys to make working together a success, for your career and your relationship.1. Common pitfalls of working together
Let’s start with the downsides you might expect when you work with a spouse or a partner.You feel like you’re always at work
If you work together, it’s easy to bring your work into your personal life. Couples who work together at someone else’s company tend not to have this problem as much as copreneurs (couple entrepreneurs) who start a business together, according to research by Kathy J. Marshack, a Ph.D in Psychology. Marshack found no difference in terms of career satisfaction or marital satisfaction between dual-career couples and copreneurs. She did find, unsurprisingly, that work invades home life to a much greater extent with copreneurs.
So Much togetherness
You’ll see this on both the pros and cons list of spouses who work together:- Pro: You spend a lot of time together.
- Con: You spend A LOT of time together.
Increased career instability
When you and your partner or spouse work in the same industry, industry downturns hit both income-earners. If you work for the same company, the rumours of potential layoffs threaten you both. Couples who are in business for themselves face even more stress and can become very vulnerable financially. Many entrepreneurs rely on their spouse’s income and health insurance, but copreneurs often don’t have that extra security.Work arguments never end
Typically, in a relationship, there’s something to argue about, a controversial topic that comes up over and over again. Working together naturally becomes what you argue about. Experts say to make sure you’re not arguing about your relationship, but that you’re trying productively to solve problems at work.
2. Keys to success for couples working together
So, how do some couples make their working relationship a success?
Clear Boundaries
Set boundaries to ensure that your work doesn’t engulf your life and your family responsibilities don’t undermine your work. Women tend to carry their self-concepts as wives, mothers, or daughters into all aspects of their lives. This shouldn’t be a big surprise that men don’t do this to the same extent, given the tendency of the male brain to compartmentalise. Having rituals to establish boundaries can be helpful: shutting off a computer, leaving a room or building, closing the office door, turning off phone notifications. As a couple, consider setting norms and limits. Decide where and when you’ll talk about work. Set work-free zones, where you don’t let it enter your conversations. Physically limiting work’s hold on you is generally healthier, whether you work with your spouse or not. But it’s even more key when you’re protecting your relationship.
Planned time away
Plan regular time away from each other to develop outside of your shared work and relationship and avoid resentment. For introverts, this may mean time alone. For extroverts, this may mean ensuring you have your own social outlet, separate from your spouse. Either way, when your personal lives and your working lives are tightly interwoven, you need to schedule time away from each other for the health of your relationship.“Plan regular time from each other to develop outside of your shared work and relationship and avoid resentment.”
Separated responsibilities
For copreneurs, define and tend to your own separate responsibilities to reduce miscommunication and conflict.
✓ Each spouse brings a distinct expertise to the business. ✓ They meet periodically with an advisory board for objective input and progress reviews.
To avoid conflicts and issues, get a third party to help you. It’s important to ensure you have a deep reservoir of goodwill as stressful times inevitably appear.Share the wins
Enjoy your shared world by setting goals that are important to both of you, encouraging each other, and celebrating successes.