Before You Shake Hands, read this. Elle George on partnership alignment

Elle George on Founder Alignment, Partnerships, and Hard-Won Lessons

Episode Summary

Founder and author Elle George breaks down her new book “Before You Shake Hands”, a practical system for assessing alignment before partnerships, co-founder agreements, or investor deals. She shares hard lessons from a two-decade legal saga, the exact questions she now asks, and how to structure conflict protocols before momentum blinds everyone.

Who this episode is for

Founders, CEOs, operators, first-time investors, and anyone considering a co-founder or strategic partner who wants fewer surprises and fewer trips to court.

What you will learn

How to run an alignment check before you sign anythingThe five domains to vet in every partnershipHow to document conflict protocols up frontInvestor questions that expose goals and timelines earlyWhy spiritual discipline and daily routines support better decisions

Key Takeaways

Alignment beats traction. Momentum masks risk. Stop and align goals, values, roles, legal, money, and exit plans before papering anything.Ask first-principle questions. Why invest. What is the five-year end state. How will conflicts resolve. Who decides at ties.Document the downside. Agree on “what if we hate each other,” capital calls, buy-sell terms, and tie-breaker rules before you commit.Battle scars matter. Do not avoid hard histories. Ask how a partner handled legal, credit, or operational failures and what changed.Culture shows in small signals. Hiring prompt she loves, “What work bores you.” It is a precision question for role fit.Discipline scales intuition. Routine, reflection, and written agreements turn gut feel into repeatable decisions.

Frameworks from the Episode

1) The Alignment Framework — Five Domains

Values and trustRoles and responsibilitiesLegal and documentationFinancials and capital callsExit strategies and scenarios

2) Partnership Diligence Checklist

Why do you want to work with me or invest in this businessWhat are your goals for the company and the timeline to reach themWhat is your exit preference and under what conditionsDescribe your biggest business challenge and how you handled itAny prior legal or financial issues, what you learned, what changedConflict plan, decision rights, tie-breaker mechanismBuy-sell mechanics, valuation method, funding obligations

3) Conflict Protocol Up Front

Define disagreement thresholds that trigger a decision processName who has final call on specific domainsEstablish a written tie-breaker and escalation ladderPre-agree on mediation or arbitration path and venue

4) Investor Fit Questions

End-state in five years and expected liquidity pathCapital intensity expectations after initial checkGovernance, reporting, and operating cadence preferencesSupport offered beyond money and how success is measured

5) Founder Operating Rituals

Morning affirmations and meditation for clear decision-makingWeekly reflection on assumptions and alignment drift“No gossip” rule to protect culture and focus

Resources and Links