Think With The Collaborative Factor In Mind
Posted by: collaborativefactor on: July 27, 2009
- In: alliances | business | collaboration | entrepreneur | women
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A recent study found that 20% of the revenue generated by the top 2,000 US and European companies annually comes from alliances. If you are BIG business this is great news - if you are a SMALL business – even BETTER!
Collaborative Alliances are quickly becoming an embraceable business tool to grow your small business or practice without committing yourself to expensive, more formal, expansions into new markets. Webster’s defines alliance as – an association to further the common interests of its members… clients…. or customers. That means, your ability to maximize revenues, visibility and credibility increases substantially when you think with the Collaborative Factor in mind.
- Think Bigger - Think of your business in terms of solutions being your business intelligence – what can you do with what you know?
- Think Collaboratively - You must begin to think collaboratively and that takes a different mindset. No longer think you are flying solo and that you need to go it alone. Instead, embrace collaboration with like minded professionals from outside of your industry or niche.
- Think Virtually – Don’t limit yourself to just live events, services and products. Instead think of leveraging the best resources, minds and technology from around the globe. What people, products and services can you put together?
Today’s Collaborative CEO must realize the competitive edge in business is in finding unique ways to apply what you know and who you know.
YOU MAY REPRINT THIS ARTICLES WITH THE FOLLOWING: ABOUT Janet Wise: is the Founder/CEO of The Collaborative Factor. An on-line collaborative community and NYC based entrepreneurial network for small business, solopreneursand those interested in leveraging the power, acumen and support of a select group of entrepreneurs working together through inspired action so that big ideas don’t just double they explode – exponentially. A former corporate training and development expert with a Masters in HR development, Janet was responsible for managing global leadership curriculum, professional development and high potential leadership programs at Fortune 500 companies; she is skilled professional facilitator and natural collaborator. www.wisesolutions4u.com or www.wisepowernetwork.ning.com for more information and to sign up for her newsletter and her forthcoming book: The Collaborative Factor ™
YOU MAY REPRINT THIS ARTICLES WITH ALL THE ABOVE
Connect. Collaborate. Capitalize.
Is Your Collaborative Intelligent?
Posted by: collaborativefactor on: July 20, 2009
- In: alliances | business | collaboration | entrepreneur | Uncategorized | women
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Are You Ready for A Collaborative Alliance?
Collaborative Alliances can be a great strategy for expanding your visibility and profits while creating positive impact for all parties involved. While there may be no legalities involvled in creating this type of alliance, there should be plenty of preparation, discovery, intent, and written objectives if you are to experience a truly successful collaboration.
Alliances need to be both intelligent and value focused if they are to be one of the anchors to building a truly powerful expansion strategy. Intelligent collaborative alliances focus on creating an even playing field for both you and your alliance partner. You and your potential partner need to be crystal clear on what you want and want you will contribute to the alliance.
Think with the Collaborative Factor in Mind – beginning with a framework for assesing a win-win alliance:
Assess: Do you have a clear and articulated understanding of what you want from the alliance? How will this alliance serve your target markets, customers, etc.?
Locate: Locate venues and other networking opportunties that will allow you to meet like-minded potential collaborative opportunities.
Evaluate: Apply a process for evaluating the success and collaborative-ability(TM) of your potential alliance that includes: Objectives, Roles, Resources, Reach& Access, Metrics, Legalities.
Implement: Do you have a way to effectively deliver and manage the alliance including communication among the alliance partners?
Collaboration is about cooperation with your competition as well as complementary marketing but one thing collaboration isn’t is staying “silo-ed” or working in a vaccum. Collaboration obviously won’t happy alone – you need step into the mindset of a Collaborative Leader.
ABOUT Janet Wise: is the Founder/CEO of The Collaborative Factor. An online collaborative community and NYC based entrepreneurial network for small business, solopreneurs and those interested in leveraging the power, acumen and support of a select group of entrepreneurs working together through inspired action so that big ideas don’t just double they explode – exponentially. A former corporate training and development expert with a Masters in HR development, Janet was responsible for managing global leadership curriculum, professional development and high potential leadership programs at Fortune 500 companies; she is skilled professional facilitator and natural collaborator. www.wisesolutions4u.com or www.wisepowernetwork.ning.com for more information.
5 Tips For Collaborative Alliances With Your Client/Customer
Posted by: collaborativefactor on: July 16, 2009
Collaborative Alliances (a/k/a strategic alliances) are quickly becoming the accepted business tool to grow your solo practice or small business without committing yourself to expensive formal expansions into new markets. As a solopreneur or small business owner you should be looking for complementary offerings for your clients -and look for synergies and value among building a collaborative alliance with an existing client or customer.
Let’s begin with a working definition of the term: A collaborative alliance is a mutullly agreed upon arrangement whereby two or more businesses agree to exchange and/or share something of similar value for the sole purpose of increasing visibility and profits of each entity.
There is much thought, time and due diligence that needs to go into creating a a successful collaboration strategy, and careful consideration must be allowed when building an alliance with an existing client or customer. The reason is that these types of alliances change the chemistry and working dynamics of the relationship.
To ensure a successful collaborative relationship:
1) Keep the lines, roles and responsibilities clear. Distinguish client work from your collaborative alliance. In other words distinguish between the product or service you’re committed to delivering for your client and the Collaborative exchange.
2) Place the exiting and established relationship first. Don’t sacrifice a good client relationship for the potential success of a collaborative alliance.
3) Keep your side of the street clean. Inother words, be hyper-responsive and fix even the smallest hint of a problem or conflict immediately. Demonstrate respect for the alliance, but think in terms of preserving the current relationship.
4) Make your “partner’s” value shine. Credit this person with making the alliance happen and acknowledge any internal champion of your alliance.
5) Think BIG – Start SMALL – Create and commit to an alliance exchange that is easy to deliver (mutual display, teleconference or program) and that has a short term end date. You can always “renew and expand”
About the author: Janet Wise , MS is Founder/CEO of The Collaborative Factor. A NYC based entrepreneurial network for small business, solopreneurs and those interested in starting their own business. Offering facilitated networking events, business and personal development programs, subject matter experts and a vibrant ONLINE Collaborative community. Her signature program, The Collaborative, uses poven techniques, resources,inspiraton, support and accountabilty – and a new proprietyary business development model to show you how to effectively use Collaboration as powerful business expansion strategy.
Janet is a former Corporate Training & Development expert responsible for managing global leadership, client focus, and professsional development programs at Fortune 100 companies. For more information visit: www.wisesolutions4u.com or Tel 718.776.0957
Collaborative Alliances
Are you a Value Focused Collaborator or an Income Focused Collaborator?
Posted by: collaborativefactor on: July 7, 2009
Janet Wise, MS, Founder: The Collaborative Factor
Connect. Collaborate. Capitalize.
From my own experience I know how exciting, rewarding, and profitable it can be to collaborate with other inspired entrepreneurs. I have built my success both personally and professionally by leveraging the talents and power of many and you can too.
I also know how challenging it can be to understand the leadership, mindset and dynamics of identifying, nurturing and implementing a successful collaborative alliance – which is why I created the Collaborative Factor.
Alliances need to be both intelligent and value focused if they are to be one of the anchors to building a truly powerful business expansion strategy.
To best leverage your collaborative alliances, you need to become a Value Focused Collaborator. That is, creating an even playing field for both you and your alliance partner to get the most from your relationship. Know what you want and understand whay they need.
Think with the Collaborative Factor in mind: When faced with a potential collaborative opportunity, ask yourself:
- What are 2 to 3 assets my potential alliance partner has that can help me and what are 2 to 3 assets I have to help them.
- How do we produce a “win” together?
Rather than focusing strictly on the income potential think how can you help others achieve their success? Just like with networking, building effective collaborative relationships takes time, intent, analysis, and intelligence – but the results are worth it!
You may reprint this article with this information: By Janet Wise, Founder: The Collaborative Factor, www.wisesolution4u.com or janet@wisesolutions4u.com
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Posted by: collaborativefactor on: June 25, 2009
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