Our reality check should either reinforce the efficacy of our process or help us understand just where our process has broken down. We can learn to improve our planning in the first step. We can recommit to executing our plan better in the second step. Perhaps we should evaluate more frequently in the third step.What can we improve on? How can we do better? We study the results of our process, draw conclusions, and decide how we will act right now.What’s the best decision we can make at this moment?

Sometimes the action we should take is simply to abandon the activity. Suppose we discover that we do not play well together. This is the perfect time—before we have too much invested in the partnership—to acknowledge the fact, pick up our toys, and move on. Companies frequently find that their cultures or technologies are not as compatible as they thought they were. Rather than ontinuing down a path to nowhere, it’s best sometimes to acknowledge the fact and look for a new partner. This is a healthy sign of maturity and growth. Like couples dating, you learn something about your partner and, just as important, you learn something about yourself. You have just increased your Partnering Intelligence.