Collaborative Alliances (a/k/a strategic alliances) are quickly becoming the accepted business tool to grow your solo practice or small business without committing yourself to expensive formal expansions into new markets.   As a solopreneur or small business owner you should be looking for complementary offerings for your clients -and  look for synergies and value among building a collaborative alliance with an existing client or customer.

Let’s begin with a working definition of the term:  A collaborative alliance is a mutullly agreed upon arrangement whereby two or more businesses agree to exchange and/or share something of similar value for the sole purpose of increasing visibility and profits of each entity.

There is much thought, time and due diligence that needs to go into creating a a successful collaboration strategy, and careful consideration must be allowed when building an alliance with an existing client or customer.  The reason is that these types of alliances change the chemistry and working dynamics of the relationship. 

 To ensure a successful collaborative relationship:

1. Keep the lines, roles and responsibilities clear.   Distinguish client work from your collaborative alliance.  In other words distinguish between the product or service you’re committed to delivering for your client and the Collaborative exchange.
2. Place the exiting and established relationship first.  Don’t sacrifice a good client relationship for the potential success of a collaborative alliance. 
3. Keep your side of the street clean.  Inother words, be hyper-responsive and fix even the smallest hint of a problem or conflict immediately.  Demonstrate respect for the alliance, but think in terms of preserving the current relationship.
4. Make your “partner’s”  value shine.  Credit this person with making the alliance happen and acknowledge any internal champion of your alliance.
5. Think BIG – Start SMALL – Create and commit to an alliance exchange that is easy to deliver (mutual display, teleconference or program) and that has a short term end date.   You can always “renew and expand”

About the author:  Janet Wise , MS is Founder/CEO of The Collaborative Factor.  A NYC based entrepreneurial network for small business, solopreneurs and those interested in starting their own business.  Offering  facilitated networking events, business and personal development programs, subject matter experts and a vibrant ONLINE Collaborative community.   Her signature program,   The Collaborative,  uses poven techniques, resources,inspiraton, support and accountabilty – and a new proprietyary business development model to show you how to effectively use Collaboration as powerful business expansion strategy.  Janet is a former Corporate Training & Development expert responsible for managing global leadership, client focus, and professsional development programs at Fortune 100 companies.   For more information visit: www.wisesolutions4u.com or Tel 718.776.0957