HOW TO EFFECTIVELY FIND A COLLABORATOR OR PARTNER IN TODAY’S BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

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The highly volatile and at times unpredictable environment of modern business is not the best setting to go it alone. As a CEO running a growing business, someone running investments, or a leader seeking to deal with the onslaught of changes better, the right associate can be everything. However, locating that partner, the one that genuinely creates value, involves thinking, patience, and a clear approach.

Figure out what you need first

Even before you start your search to find a collaborator, take the time to learn what you want. Do you require specialization in a particular field? Access to resources? A new mindset to provoke your thinking?

Knowing what you need prevents you from being fooled into partnerships that seem great on paper but do nothing to get you where you want to be.

Seek mutual values, not only skills

There is always an inclination to pick a partner on a credential basis only. That is a real mistake because value orientation is just as important, and probably more important. Skills are trainable or able to be outsourced. However, a combination of trust, integrity, and purpose alignment is the core to a successful partnership.

Ask yourself:

  • Does this individual or company/company look at things from a perspective that aligns with mine?

If the answer is yes, you have a better chance of creating something long-lasting.

Evaluate their communication skill

Good partners do more than add expertise. They add clarity. Note the way a potential partner speaks to you.

  • Besides speaking, are they good listeners as well?
  • Do they talk about risks, not only opportunities?

For instance, when it comes to finance, fund managers like Anson Funds succeed not just through their strategies but by making complicated concepts easy to understand with their partners and clients. That communication skill fosters confidence, which is very crucial in any teamwork.

Test with small steps

Rather than getting involved in a partnership on a large scale at once, begin with something small. Collaborate on a project, trial, or limited participation. This provides you with an understanding of:

  • How they function on a daily basis
  • How they tackle goals
  • How they manage deadlines
  • How do they react when unexpected things happen?
  • Practical examinations tell more than slick talk.

Encourage different perspectives

The most valuable partners do notalways agree with your ideas. They expand them. It is good to seek partners who have a different set of experiences or insights to share.

The rather complex world we live in today is a world where diversity of opinion will bring opportunities that you would not otherwise see. The appropriate partner also takes responsibility to provoke you in a respectful way to view problems and solutions from a fresh perspective.

Trust your guts

Lastly, do not disregard your instincts. When it doesn’t seem right, even when the pitch is flawless, take a minute. Good relationships are based on trust, and usually those instincts can sniff out trouble before the data can.