Grow Everyone’s Impact Through Collaboration
- makeitmatterprogra
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Effective collaboration means knowing your organization’s strengths and its needs. Here's how clear content supports your collaborations.
Here's what you'll learn in this article:
How to emphasize your organization’s strengths.
3 strategies for content that promotes collaboration in the areas your organization needs.
Additional services and resources to Make It Matter.
Collaborate with Similar and Complimentary Organizations to Lift Each Other
Possibly the greatest hindrance to collaboration is a scarcity mindset stemming from a lack of clarity about what sets your organization apart and what it needs from the collaboration. First, recognize that there is enough. Collaboration done well pools strengths and lifts both organizations collectively.
Next, realize that collaborating well relies on clear communication. It isn’t enough to be “open to collaboration”. Collaboration with set logistics and goals allows both organizations to operate from the same place and gives natural points in the process for determining if the collaboration is a fit. Collaboration is more like a relationship with a transactional element. In this arrangement there is trust, ups and downs, and, ideally, greater benefit for both organizations.
Three strategies for content that promotes collaboration.
If your organization isn’t clear about how it will achieve its vision, then possible collaborators won’t understand how to work together either. Likewise, if your organization only wants to collaborate because it sounds like something to do, then each organization is unlikely to reap great benefits.
1. Know Your Organization’s Strengths
What does your organization do well? Maybe your organization has a tremendous volunteer program, knows how to sustain supporters, or has a great marketing team for events. What you organization does well is you leverage for collaboration. Collaboration is more transactional and about pooling resources to achieve a greater benefit, so you want to showcase what your organization strengths are.
When looking for a collaboration include your organization’s strengths in a write-up. Whether it remains internal notes for you or becomes an ongoing page on your website, ensure there is clarity about what your organization does well and can share with others.
2. Know Your Organization’s Needs
Why does your organization want to collaborate? Maybe your organization needs to build a volunteer program, host its first event, or become more entrenched in the community. Knowing what your organization needs from a collaboration is how you will assess the fit of a possible collaboration.
Add your organization’s needs to the write-up that includes your organization’s strengths. Think of this like your organization’s collaboration wish list. As you name your needs, think expansively and include lofty needs and straightforward needs. Organization’s looking to collaborate will appreciate seeing your organization’s vision for collaboration.
3. Get More Specific
With your organization’s strengths and needs in mind, then get specific about what other organizations make sense as a collaborative partner. If you are looking to grow your reach in the community, then look for similar organizations—being extra clear about how your organization unique, not duplicative. For example, if your organization offers services to youth or rural residents, while theirs offers services to adults or urban residents.
Alternatively, if you are looking for a specific skill set then a contrasting organization might be a great fit, as long as they have the skill set you need. For example, if your organization provides meals for those in need, then collaborating with an organization that donates flower arrangements, might be a great fit—the tables will look great filled with food and flowers! Check out the collaboration wheel graphic in this article for ideas on complimentary and contrasting organizations.
When you reach out to an organization use your strengths and needs content to craft the ask.
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