Public Safety Insights Newsletter: The Key to Forging Successful Partnerships

The Key to Forging Successful Partnerships
Public Safety Insight:	Forging successful partnerships requires that you understand and honor a major difference between partnerships and teams.

A recent conversation with two colleagues led to a discussion about the difference between partnerships and teams. Whereas a key characteristic of teams is having a shared goal, they said, partnerships don’t require a shared goal to achieve outcomes of value for each party. That is, while partners have a shared purpose or vision, the outcomes they expect from their collaboration may be very different.

The example they used is the partnership between Starbucks and Barnes and Noble. Consistent with its mission to “inspire the human spirit one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time,” Starbucks’ goal is to sell lots of coffee. To achieve its mission of operating the best specialty retail business (bookseller) in America, Barnes and Noble’s goal is to sell lots of books. By creating a partnership for the shared purpose of enhancing customers’ shopping experience, both companies increased their sales when Starbucks started selling its coffee in Barnes and Noble book stores. Because each company brings something to the table that the other doesn’t have, they are able to provide greater value to customers than either one can offer on its own.

Think about some of the partnerships in which your agency engages. Although most or all share a common purpose with you, your respective goals are different, as are the roles you play in realizing that purpose. Let’s say the common purpose is to provide a safe, healthy, economically viable community. Your agency’s goal may be to put out fires and respond to medical and other emergency calls. Here are likely goals of some of your partners:

• American Red Cross: provide immediate assistance to people who have been displaced from their homes due to fire, flood, or natural disaster
• Utility company: provide safe, reliable energy services to customers
• Medical professionals: deliver high quality, patient-centered care
• Politicians: get re-elected
• Accreditation organizations: help agencies and individuals achieve personal and professional excellence
• Colleges and universities: educate students
• City/county human resources department: hire qualified people

Here are five ways to set your agency’s partnerships up for success:

1. Identify a clear common purpose or vision
2. Specify your respective roles and stick to them
3. Recognize and accept that your partners’ desired goals are different
4. Ensure your expectations of your partners are realistic and aligned with the purpose
5. Use your shared purpose as the touchstone for your respective actions and decisions

The bottom line: a partnership can be more effective and rewarding for both parties if you remember that there are different, legitimate routes to the same destination.

To find articles and resources that may be of value to you, I invite you to visit my web site at www.PublicSafetyInsights.net.

Upcoming IAFC Webinar
If you are interested in enhancing your leadership skills, or those of your staff, I invite you to join me for my upcoming IAFC-sponsored webinar. Versatility Skills: Critical Success Factors for Fire and Rescue Leaders is scheduled for June 9th at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Click here for more information or to register on the IAFC website.

---

Public Safety Insights is a concise, bi-weekly newsletter written specifically to help first responders maximize their performance. Your e-mail address is never shared with anyone for any reason. You may unsubscribe by clicking the link on the bottom of this e-mail.

©2015 Pat Lynch | Public Safety Insights