What to do when partnership disagreement strikes, how to design a powerful first win and the four B’s
In partnership with MWAH. Making Work Absolutely Human.
Welcome to Partnership Wednesday! Here are 3 ideas from me and 1 question for you to consider this week to create partnerships you never thought possible.
3 IDEAS FROM ME
I.
New partnerships between businesses are made or break when it comes to the first win. When it comes to designing your next partnership, sweat the details on the first win. This milestone should be:
Achieved within six months of partnership agreement signing
Significant in the eyes of your new partner (so they recognise it was the right call to bring you closer and work together)
A building block to the next milestone and set the tone for how your team will partner into the future
II.
When it comes to partnership misunderstanding or disagreement, listen first, speak last and ask questions with the intention to understand. And wherever possible, have a conversation and leave written communication as a last resort.
III.
What do you do if your partnership team members are resistant to a positive and inclusive team culture? I was this asked this question from the crowd this week. Here’s my answer:
The four B's. Beliefs, Belonging, Breaks and Bridge. These are the four question types I use to get as close to the root cause as possible in these circumstances.
Beliefs - To what extent do beliefs and values align with the work we are undertaking in this partnership? A 1-10 scale can be useful to get this conversation started, 10 = completely aligned.
Belonging - How (un)comfortable or content do team members feeling working in this partnership? To what extent do they feel safe and welcome?
Breaks (look for breaks in understanding/capability) - Is the partnership mission clearly understood? Are there opportunities to improve skills?
Bridge - Are team members willing to find ways to overcome the resistance?
1 QUESTION FOR YOU
Which of you business partnerships would benefit from being reset today?
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Until next week,
Phil Hayes-St Clair - Partnership Expert
FROM OUR PARTNER
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The team at Making Work Absolutely Human (MWAH) have got you covered. In addition to providing advice to create incredible cultures at the world’s most iconic brands they also help people like you and me with a simple online membership to actionable resources, downloadable guides and advice to help you navigate any tricky topic when it comes to people and culture. I’m a long time customer and it’s incredible.
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