Forming a Business Partnership: Psychoanalytic Aspects

This graduate qualification work, titled "Forming a Business Partnership: Psychoanalytic Aspects" is devoted to the study of psychodynamics of business partnerships using psychoanalytic concepts. The relevance of the topic is driven by the increasing number of business partnerships in modern conditions and the need to understand the psychological aspects influencing the effectiveness of these partnerships. The objective of the study is to investigate the impact of partners' unconscious fantasies on business partnership: its formation and relationship dynamics. The theoretical part examines psychoanalytic concepts, approaches, and methods relevant for understanding business partnerships, including the concept of unconscious fantasies. In the empirical part, the tasks include preparing and conducting research using the chosen approach, as well as the psychoanalytic interpretation of the results obtained from the coaching and research sessions of 13 pairs of business partners. The main findings of the study confirm the significant influence of unconscious fantasies on the relationships and dynamics of business partnerships. Particular attention is given to adapting elements of psychoanalytic couple therapy to work with business partners. The psychoanalytic approach allows for a deeper understanding of interrelations and conflict zones, which contributes to improving interaction quality and enhancing the effectiveness of business partnerships. The practical significance of the work lies in the development of recommendations for business counsellors and coaches on the application of psychoanalytic methods to improve interactions between business partners. The presented findings can be useful both for researchers in the field of psychology and business, and for practicing counsellors and coaches. Keywords: psychoanalysis, business partnerships, business partners, psychodynamics, unconscious fantasies, shared fantasy, coaching.