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Before you start planning your partnership, you need
to make sure you actually need a partnership!
Do we need a partnership (Mini-checklist): |
Do we want the (worthwhile) benefits? |
YES |
NO |
Do we face limitations to achieve these on our own? |
YES |
NO |
Can other people/ teams/ organisations help us gain
the benefits? |
YES |
NO |
You may think this looks like a no-brainer of a checklist, but you'd
be surprised how many partnerships were founded on not having a clear
idea what it is we are looking for in a partnership.
Planning a Partnership
As you can imagine, we'd not be spending all this time going through
details on partnerships if they are as simple as instant mash potatoes.
There are some issues about partnerships you need to be aware of
(and be ready for).
- People are resistant to change! Changing a simple thing such as the
way you cross your arms (try doing it the other way round... not easy,
is it?) is hard enough, imagine changing the way you work to
accommodate a partnership?
People are resistant to change for several reasons, such as:
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What's in it for me? - it must be worthwhile
for people to be involved in your partnership. Have you taken
their needs into account? |
I
don't understand it. - you need to explain the benefits in
the context of the people whose help you need. Does it really
deliver benefit for them, or just delivers what you think they
want? |
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I can't cope with it. - not only do you need to put it
into context, you also need to communicate it in a way that
makes sense for your partners. Are you using jargon and language
that they cannot associate with?
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"Not invented
here" - oops! People can get touchy.
But if you need their help, you need to engage them. Ask them
what they want out of the partnership and how you can work
together to achieve it. |
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Once you get everyone on board, you need to look at:
- the Scope - what are we trying to achieve? Separate the wish-list
(the Aims) from what we can achieve (the Targets). Make sure
your targets are: Specific; Measurable; Achievable; Realistic
and Timed (SMART!)
- the Activities - what needs
to be done and how are we going to
do it. This is a simple and effective way to plan a work programme.
Use the What-How matrix to help you (see
the guide on the What-How matrix).
- Get Top Level Commitment - if the bosses aren't not with you,
convince them. Otherwise, your partnership will be hobbled
from the start.
- Get sufficient Resources - once you got the top level commitment,
then make sure that comes with some resources (ideally enough
to do the job, but we all live in the real world and know that
that is unlikely!)
Click here for the Project Sus'd Partnership Guide. |
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