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To Collaborate Or Not To Collaborate?


First off, let us say what collaboration is not - it is not competition, parasitic behavior or just working with someone because you do not want to be alone or you do not know where you are going so you are hoping that someone else would guide your direction.


If the above are your reasons for collaboration, then the foundation is already flawed.


I have gotten multiple messages from our community members who attended the just concluded Women Do It Afraid Business Workshop about collaborating with one another and let me tell you- I am overly excited. Why? These women know their onions and they are bringing their A Game to any collaboration they are going to be a part of!


Why do so many entrepreneurs choose to bypass the collaboration option and go it alone instead?

FEAR! – Lack of trust, uncertainty and losing control. Most of us are so used to doing things by ourselves that the thought of working alongside someone throws us off balance. We network and then we do not know how to leverage that network because we do not want come off too strong.

We hear it all the time: "if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,"


So what are the things to consider before I collaborate?


-Relationship: You have to consider what type of relationship you have with your collaborator. This is to dig deep into the reason why you want to collaborate with one another. What is drawing you to work together? Similar story? Similar situation? There has to be a concrete answer to the WHY and not just leaving it to chance.


-What are you both bringing to the table: A lot of people avoid these hard questions at the beginning and begin to struggle in the middle of a collaboration. Do not assume that you know what the strengths and weakness of your collaborator are! Talk it through with one another so that early on you can identify missing gaps and plan towards filling the gap. For e.g. One collaborator might be a perceptive thinker-always going based on gut feeling or perception and another is analytical – making decision based on numbers, facts and proof. This has to be brought to the table.


-Make sure that the collaboration is mutually beneficial: You should never feel used in a collaborative relationship. You wonder why people do not mix business with family? It is often for this reason - over familiarity. Your business is your business! You have not worked this hard to let familiarity lead you to not getting the t’s crossed or the I’s dotted, If you really want to preserve that relationship and if you really care for your business, you would make sure that assumptions are off the day. Every party involved in the collaboration should be very clear on what the expectations are and before documents are signed or promises made, get a lawyer.


-Operations: Clarity is key in ensuring a smooth workflow. Questions like who is in charge of what? How do we communicate? What are your preferred communicative styles? How do we review our goals and targets and measure their success? Who is accountable for what?

If all these are not defined from the onset, one person would begin to feel they are doing majority of the work and we have an imbalance in the synergy of this partnership. To avoid conflict, define these some of these operational processes from the beginning and while later you can begin to modify or evolve as needed.


-Money: A 50/50 split of profit is usually ideal, but sometimes resentment can emerge when it comes to the individual work efforts that have been invested. Sometimes you may require to contribute to the business for it to grow. Given the scenario, do you think it is fair enough for you to make that contribution?

It is important to discuss and agree to financial contributions levels that may be required to contribute in your business. What are the anticipated initial expenses, and who will invest now? What’s the anticipated future income potential, and who will benefit later?

Other investment can include time, energy, expertise, influence, and more.


The best collaborations are when businesses and their owners are better off from the experience and not just in monetary value as that might not be the end goal of all collaborations but an experience of personal and business growth and relationship.

So would you collaborate?









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