Collaboration is a strange thing. Most of us understand its importance, yet we often assume collaboration happens naturally, something we just “do”. In a business context, this assumption can be risky.
Entering a collaborative partnership, such as an alliance, without proper preparation is like jumping into deep water without knowing how to swim. If you are very lucky and tread water hard enough you might survive, otherwise the outcome will be disappointing.
We know alliances inherently carry risks. Therefore, we need to know how to swim in the challenging waters of alliances before diving in. Using best-practice-based tools and processes significantly reduces risks and enhances the likelihood of success.
Increasingly, individuals and organisations recognise that successful external alliances require deliberate preparation, appropriate tools, and adherence to proven processes. Over recent decades, alliance management has evolved into a specialised profession. We’ve not only learned how to swim, we also know exactly where to find the life vests.
One critical best practice when forming an alliance is clearly defining mutual expectations early on. Clarifying precisely what each partner brings to the table and what each partner expects to gain creates a strong foundation for collaboration. Simple yet powerful tools exist to support this foundational step, ensuring everyone involved knows exactly what’s expected of them.
Investing a little extra effort at the beginning to align on goals and expectations can prevent confusion, frustration, wasted time, and misunderstandings later in the partnership. Solid preparation helps eliminate ambiguity and sets your alliance on a clear path to success. Take the time now to ensure your next alliance begins with a strong foundation.
The Optimise Your Alliances programme is designed to help you build precisely this kind of robust foundation. Explore how it can support your success here.