Role clarity is key. What each party is supposed to do, by when, and beyond tasks, it would be even better if it were divided based on outcomes or areas of responsibilities. The rewards should also be commensurate to the value added

When your co-founding team is facing unequal contributions, addressing the issue openly and constructively is crucial for maintaining harmony. Start by having an honest conversation with your co-founders—express your observations and concerns without placing blame. Encourage each team member to share their perspective and listen actively to understand any underlying issues. Revisit the roles and responsibilities to ensure they align with each person’s strengths and availability. Consider redistributing tasks or adjusting equity if needed to reflect contributions fairly. Establish clear expectations moving forward and set regular check-ins to monitor progress and address concerns early.

Open communication and transparency are key to addressing these issues. Re-evaluate roles based on individual strengths and availability, and implement regular check-ins to ensure fair workload distribution. If conflicts persist, consider mediation as a neutral third party can facilitate constructive dialogue and find common ground.

Never lose focus on the bigger picture. Encourage open dialogue, seek compromise, and ensure that everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute equally. By fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability, you can overcome challenges and maintain a harmonious and productive co-founding team.

Communication and considering intent is important. Intent drives why we do things and if the intention is good but there is co founders lacking in certain skills or time availability rather than bad intentions. Communication is also key in any high pressured relationship and sharing a business can be about as high pressured as it gets. Remember each others intent and communicate effectively, this is what has got my co-founders and I through situations and in 20 years I have never had a bad business partnership, even when there has been conflict it has been resolved fast.