Managing in a Collaborative Environment
Managing in an alliance is different and can be difficult. It is easy for managers to become frustrated due to:
- Structural issues of the alliance.
- Non-aligned processes and difficulties.
- Barriers within their own business.
- Lack of clarity and support from their own business.
- Lack of skills on relationship matters.
Consequently managers can find themselves behaving and managing in a way that is non-alliance like.
Managers need to:
- Bridge the gap between theory and reality by understanding the nature of the alliance and what it is and what it is not
- Dramatically shift their mind-set and attitudes of it being business as usual
- Develop new skills of influencing and negotiation as well as better inter personal communication competencies (listening, verbal, challenging) to prepare them for sharing control and sharing information
- Know what it means and what it takes when talking about relationships based on (i) trust (ii) win-win and (iii) empathy
- Realise that alliances are not only about business; alliances are also about people and relationships
- Partner selection is one of the keys to alliance success
- Self-serving behaviours are not acceptable
Managers need new skills:
Business:
- Visioning
- Strategic conversions
- Collaborative negotiating
- Leading and developing Teams
- Managing & implementing change
- Managing by influence
- Learning & growing
Relationships:
- Self awareness
- Social savvy & inter personal communications
- Creating intimacy
- Trust building
- Co-operating & interfacing
- Committing & supporting
- Growing together
