How well do you understand the goals of your partners when you are working on a collaborative project?
The Challenge
Make a list of three key partners with whom you are currently working. For each partner, identify a goal they have that may guide their actions in your work together. This goal may relate to that person's position, department, or organization.
Why do this?
Each person around the table works in a specific role and organization and brings different perspectives and mandates to the collaborative process. For example, a partner in finance may be focused primarily on keeping the costs of the project within budget. Understanding the drivers that influence your partners will enable you to build coalitions more effectively.
This challenge will improve your effectiveness at building coalitions. Understanding the constraints and motivations of others around the table enhances your political savvy as you become more skilled at crafting your next step in the process of achieving desired outcomes.
What’s next?
Repeat this challenge before your next meeting with a different group of partners. Practicing this challenge regularly will help make this step a natural part of your planning process and will improve your collaborative efforts.
