Research shows that many alliances fail, often for reasons on the soft side of the relationship. These are areas where traditional metrics do not reveal how well the alliance is really doing or where improvements are needed. As one partner, you might feel the alliance is fully under control. But does your partner feel the same?
A few years ago, a client shared a story where their partner suddenly terminated the agreement. For my client, the alliance was thriving and delivering beyond expectations. Yet the partner was so dissatisfied that they were willing to pay penalty fees for early cancellation. The two parties had completely different perceptions of the alliance, leaving one delighted and the other deeply unhappy.
This could have been prevented.
An alliance health check could have made the imbalance visible and allowed corrective measures to be taken. The main purpose of a health check is to assess perceptions from both partners and identify areas that need attention. The goal is to avoid broken relationships and instead work actively on improvements that lead to healthier, more resilient alliances.
A common objection I hear is that alliance managers are already too busy managing the alliance to take on another task. I understand, but it is like sacrificing your health to make money and then spending that money later in a desperate attempt to regain your health. Maintaining health is almost always easier and cheaper than recovering it. That applies equally to personal health and relationship health.
Yes, a health check requires some of your time to provide input. But you do not need to do all the work yourself. In fact, it is often better to involve an independent third party to ensure objectivity. A third party can organise the process, gather findings, and deliver a report with recommendations. You and your partner can then discuss the results and agree on an action plan.
The key is to take ownership of that plan together and actively work on the agreed improvements.
And it does not stop with one health check. A health check should be repeated at regular intervals, perhaps every six months or annually, depending on the relationship. This allows you to measure progress and identify new areas for continuous improvement.
What has been your experience with conducting health checks on your alliances?
PS: Find out what an Alliance Health Check can do for your organisation. Schedule a no-strings-attached call with me to explore what it could mean for your alliances.