Competition between Co-Founders is a complex - and often unspoken - experience.

It’s not unusual, especially in fast-paced, high-stakes environments, for drive and momentum to slowly morph into pressure. That pressure can turn into comparison. And suddenly, without ever naming it, you’re measuring yourself against the person who’s supposed to be on your team.

Here are some prompts to explore what might be at play:

When did this start?
Was there a shift in roles, a particular success or mistake, or a moment where the dynamic changed? Pinpointing when it started might help you uncover why it started.

Is this pattern familiar?
Do you feel competitive in other parts of your life? What beliefs or past experiences might be shaping this dynamic?

Could there be a perceived benefit?
Is there part of you that likes the edge it gives you? Do you feel more productive, more driven, more “in it”? Sometimes we hold onto uncomfortable dynamics because we’re getting something from them.

How much of this is assumption?
What story have you built up about what your co-founder is thinking or feeling? Could there be another version?

Why hasn’t it been spoken about?
What’s made it feel hard to name? Why do you worry it will sound petty? Has that fear shown up elsewhere in your communication?

What happens if you say nothing?
What’s the potential cost - to your working relationship, to the business, and to your own peace of mind?

These dynamics rarely shift on their own, but naming it doesn’t have to be confrontational. You could say something like:
“I feel like things have felt a bit competitive between us lately, and it’s putting me in a weird headspace. Can we talk about it? Is it something you’ve felt too?”

Don’t go into the conversation with a plan or solution, go in with questions. Be ready to share your experience openly and honestly, listen to theirs, then reach a solution together.

Remember, you’re a team. The goal is to build something sustainable, together, not to win on your own.