Most employment contracts focus on the legal and financial terms, but what about the unwritten expectations that shape employee trust, engagement, and retention? Psychological contract theory, developed by Denise Rousseau, explains how employees develop beliefs about mutual obligations in the workplace—and what happens when those expectations are broken. When employees perceive a psychological contract breach, it can lead to disengagement, turnover, and even cultural breakdowns.

Founders and executives carry a constant mental load—big decisions, competing priorities, and unexpected challenges. Mindspace Review is the first step in our advisory sessions, providing a structured way to offload concerns, gain clarity, and ensure key issues get addressed. Rooted in psychology, this powerful practice helps leaders improve focus, decision-making, and strategic execution.

Strategic clarity isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the foundation of long-term business success. Without it, teams lose focus, decision-making stalls, and growth slows. Drawing on insights from Sun Tzu, Mintzberg, and Harvard Business School’s Michael Tushman, this article explores how businesses can create and maintain a clear, adaptable strategy for sustainable growth.

Most advisory boards fail—not because they lack smart people, but because they’re structured inefficiently. The best advisory boards don’t just provide guidance; they act as on-demand teams of experts who help founders make better decisions, faster. In this article, we break down why most advisory boards don’t work, how to build one that does, and the critical role of a strong chairperson in keeping everything on track.

Strategy is more than a plan—it is a dynamic process that evolves with your business. In this post, we explore Henry Mintzberg’s approach to strategy and how Founded Partners applies it to help founder-led businesses navigate growth, uncertainty, and opportunity. Learn how blending structured planning with real-world adaptability can drive lasting success.

At Founded Partners, we take a different approach to business advisory and consulting. Combining real founder experience with psychologically informed strategy, we help lower middle market companies grow, adapt, and succeed. In this post, we break down our unique methodology and how it benefits founder-led businesses. Read more.