Just as IQ is shorthand for mental intelligence, and EQ refers to emotional intelligence, Stephen Dent describes and defines PQ, or partnering intelligence, and identifies the attitudes, skills, competencies, and actions needed to create long-term healthy partnerships based on trust and mutual benefits.

If you always thought that a partnership is based on instinct, friendship and a bit of good bookkeeping, think again. The keys to creating a successful partnership are a little more complex, according to author Stephen M. Dent who enumerates the qualities that make both internal and external partnerships successful. This process involves understanding the stages of relationship development and partnership development, as well as creating a past/future orientation. Dent discusses how to assess, explore, initiate and make commitments to create a strong partnership, and offers charts, checklists, and illustrations to help you at each stage. He also supplies a few case studies as examples of the process and to substantiate the value of creating solid partnerships.