“No man is an island, entire of itself …” – John Donne (1572 – 1631). What he meant was that human beings do not thrive when isolated from others. It is as true in the 21st century as it was in the 17th century.
Whether you are a solo practitioner, small business owner, department / unit manager or an executive, you cannot succeed if you choose to go at it alone.
This week we focus on the solo practitioner and the small business owner. Next week, we will focus on the department / unit managers and executives in larger organizations. Should you not believe that collaboration is a relevant issue in large organizations, look at the recent announcement between Google and Verizon (WSJ – 11/10/09).
One of the challenges we face as solo practitioners or small business owners is that we cannot know and do everything that needs to be done to run a successful business. Some believe they can, only to come up far short of the success they hoped for. As we’ve said in the past – hope is not a strategy. Sometimes we need help: someone to talk with about a strategy; someone to add a skill or idea that we do not possess; someone to get us introduced to new prospects and potential clients. One of the more powerful strategies you can use is collaboration. Done right and well, we find it an incredible path to success.
Some benefits of collaboration are:
- It can lead to service differentiation
- It can enable you to provide more value to your clients
- It can help you share the workload and get more done in less time – and important element in life balance
- It can make work more fun and enjoyable
- It can help you generate creative ideas and new approaches to serving your clients
A question we often get is – nice idea, but how do you meet and get to know potential collaborators?
Consider using the following approach:
- Look for individuals already in your personal network
- Ask a trusted colleague – word-of-mouth referrals are excellent
- Grow your own network by becoming an active member of a local, regional or national organization
- Attend conferences, seminars and presentations to meet the presenters and the participants – in fact, that’s how we met.
- Contact authors who are writing about issues important to you
- Use social networks to get an introduction to potential collaborators
When you find someone who you believe may be a good collaborator, be sure to:
- Determine if you share the same values
- Take time to build a relationship – just like any other business relationship you have with clients and prospects
- Be sure this can be a bi-lateral relationship
- Always apply the “doctrine of fairness” especially in work strengths and compensation
Collaborations can be a very positive and rewarding way to develop your business. If entered into wisely, the rewards for you and your collaborators are great.
Copyright 2009 Kubica and LaForest
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