“We created an alliance, but we’re not seeing the return we expected.”
It’s all about strategic partnership readiness and it’s frustrating, especially when the alliance began with optimism and enthusiasm. It’s even harder when the people involved genuinely like each other, yet no one can quite pinpoint what’s going wrong. Still, this situation is all too common. And often, the underlying issues are hard to identify.
There are five key domains that need to be in order before you embark on any strategic collaboration.
Let’s take a closer look:
Strategic Clarity
A partnership without clear strategic intent quickly loses focus. You need to understand why you’re partnering, what value you aim to create, and how it fits your broader business goals. Just as important: is a partnership truly the best vehicle to achieve your objective?
Organisational Capacity
Good intentions won’t carry a partnership forward. You need people, time, and resources. Operational readiness is the bridge between idea and execution and that includes assigning clear ownership for managing the partnership.
Internal Alignment
A partnership can’t thrive if your own organisation sends mixed signals. Internal alignment ensures your partner experiences consistency and avoids being caught in crossfire. Everyone involved must be clear on roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
Collaboration Readiness
Successful partnerships require more than a solid contract, they demand trust, flexibility, and shared problem-solving. Experience in working across boundaries builds credibility. You must be willing to co-own outcomes and navigate ambiguity with your partner.
Attractiveness as a Partner
Even if you’re ready to partner, the other side needs to see clear value in working with you. Being perceived as a credible, capable, and reliable partner increases your chances of attracting and sustaining the right collaborations. Trust and mutual benefit matter as much as technical performance.
You don’t need to be perfect in all five areas before starting a partnership. But the better prepared you are, the greater your chances of success.
That’s why I created the Strategic Partnership Readiness Assessment. It helps you evaluate your preparedness across these five domains and identify where internal improvements might still be needed. You can explore it here.
Remember: the cost of not knowing is always higher than the price of clarity.