Relationship or Partnership?
Is there a difference? Are all relationships partnerships or are all partnerships relationships? I think it’s a question worth digging into. You can see by the definitions below that relationship is defined in a more personal way than is partnership. But I would argue that within a relationship, a partnership model is more desirable and ideal in its ability to withstand the test of time. A partnership includes teamwork, an interest in the well-being of all and common goals, whereas a relationship can be more self-serving and individually focused.
re·la·tion·ship
/rəˈlāSH(ə)nˌSHip/
noun
the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected.
the state of being connected by blood or marriage.
the way in which two or more people or groups regard and behave toward each other.
"the landlord–tenant relationship"
part·ner·ship
/ˈpärtnərˌSHip/
noun
noun: partnership
the state of being a partner or partners.
"we should go on working together in partnership"
an association of two or more people as partners.
I wrote previously of my connectedness to the We Can Do Hard Things Podcast with guest Sara Bareilles where the topic is How to Remember Yourself. Bareilles openly discusses the difference between the relationship she had with former boyfriends to the relationship she has now, saying, “this is my first partnership, which is a different entity, it’s a different organism, and I think not to any of my previous boyfriend’s discredit, I just don’t think I was available to it. I just wasn’t available, I was so protected and guarded.” This made me think about the two words and although their dictionary definitions are not altogether different, I believe there is a great distinction between the two, in that partnership means, to me, a team or a team effort with common goals and aspirations. This can be in a spousal, or boyfriend/girlfriend arrangement, as well as in a friendship and even workplace relationship. Are you “working” at the relationship in a parallel manner, or is this a partnership where you work together for the greater good of each of you individually, and together?
