Episode 19: 10 Strategies for Successful Collaborations, with Nicole Mahoney

You have heard our guests talk about co-opetition- that really cool thing that happens when competitors come together to collaborate on a project or program in order to create something bigger than they could have done on their own. This podcast recaps ten strategies for successful collaborative partnerships that we have learned from our guests.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• Strategy #1: Communication — why clear communication requires talking on the phone or in person — not just through email (David Holder)
• Strategy #2: Bring the right resources to bear — why you must know when to bring in outside help when you don’t have the necessary expertise needed for a project (Ralph Thompson)
• Strategy #3: Set realistic expectations — why it’s so crucial to make sure that all project collaborators understand what realistic project success looks like — especially in the short term (Meg Vanek)
• Strategy #4: Form relationships that lead to partnerships — why networking is the way that successful collaborative partnerships get off the ground (Kelly Rapone)
• Strategy #5: Have a shared vision — why it’s so important that all collaborators envision the same outcome for a project (Jennifer Ackerson)
• Strategy #6: Find commonality — why successful partnerships have to come from a place where partners share something in common (Leah Mueller)
• Strategy #7: Set deadlines — why you need doers (not talkers) in your partnerships (Leah Mueller)
• Strategy #8: Ask for solutions — why you shouldn’t present solutions to your partners or stakeholders and should instead bring them into the discussion (Dan Fenton)
• Strategy #9: Have a can-do attitude — why you need to approach every project with the attitude that it will succeed (Kelly Blazosky)
• Strategy #10: Be Genuine — why you should underpromise and overdeliver in your partnerships (Kristy Kennedy)