Partnerships fall apart when everyone wants the credit

I've seen three agency partnerships blow up in the last six months because each side hoarded the client relationship. One deal in Austin lost a $40k retainer because the creative agency refused to let the strategy firm talk to the client directly. If you're not aligned on who handles what from day one, don't even bother shaking hands. Has anyone else seen partnerships tank over this exact power struggle?

3 comments

3 Comments

hart.mark19d ago

Isn't the real issue just who's ego can fit through the door?

jessicaflores19d ago

Exactly this. Ego can make you fight for things that don't even matter in the long run. It's wild how we let pride ruin good opportunities and relationships just because we wanted to be RIGHT or needed to feel IMPORTANT. Hart.mark you nailed it with that door question. Sometimes I think the smartest move is just stepping back and letting someone else take the credit. It saves so much headache and keeps everyone working together instead of against each other. That client call story really resonates because I've seen that exact thing happen and it always ends badly.

james_singh719d ago

Blame my own ego for that one - I once literally asked my partner if I could sit in on a client call just so I could talk more than he did. Turns out all I did was talk over everyone and the client fired us both three weeks later. Ego's like that, it'll make you fight for credit you don't even deserve.