The Art & Science of Crosssector Partnering Ros Tennyson Senior Partnership Advisor, IBLF The Partnership Brokering Project
Art & science of cross sector partnerships
May 20, 2015
The Partnering Initiative works with individuals, organisations and systems to promote and develop partnerships for sustainable development - between business, government and civil society. Ros Tennyson presented as part of SiG's Inspiring Action for Social Impact Series. This is the presentation she spoke to;
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The Art & Science of Cross-‐sector Partnering
Ros Tennyson Senior Partnership Advisor, IBLF
The Partnership Brokering Project
Defining The Term ‘Partnership’
An ongoing working rela-onship
where risks and benefits are shared
What ma<ers most is not whether partnerships conform to this defini?on
but that all partners in a partnership agree a defini?on that underpins their work.
Most partners do not work with a shared defini?on...(and this can be fatal)
Most partnerships ‘play safe’...(and fail to maximise poten?al)
Being in line with this defini?on implies…
that each partner:
helps to
CO-‐CREATE
ac<vi<es
brings some CONTRIBUTION
to the table
is
ACCOUNTABLE
to the group
Partnerships evolve over ?me …
RESPECT for the added value each
party brings
1. EQUITY
Partnerships need (at least) 3 core principles…
2. TRANSPARENCY TRUST with partners more willing
to innovate & take risks
3. MUTUAL BENEFIT ENGAGEMENT
more likely to sustain & build value over time
Addressing (actual or perceived) power imbalance
Partnering key issue:
Understanding each other’s underlying interests
Partnering key issue:
Investing in the partnership-building process
Partnering key issue:
Partnering challenges
• Leadership & collabora<on • Reconfiguring language & thinking • Unity & diversity • Differing views of ‘success’ • LeKng go of (some) control
• Communica<on That’s OK, I’m not listening
I’m not talking to
you
✽ Insight / imagina?on /
feeling ✽ Vision (of the future) ✽ People skills ✽ Ac?ve listening ✽ Personal engagement
Partnering is an ‘art’ because it requires:
Rene Magritte
Partnering is a ‘science’ because it requires:
✽ Knowledge / analysis / thinking ✽ Understanding (of the past) ✽ Administra?ve / technical skills ✽ Precise speaking ✽ Professional detachment
At its best, partnering:
Allows a level of risk / ‘out of the box’ thinking
Mobilises / is driven by diverse resources
Gets beyond / and changes the status quo
Draws out new forms of leadership
Makes collabora?on an exci?ng and realis?c op?on
Tackles the seemingly impossible
Assumes ‘change’ is the norm...
To download tool books go to: thepartneringini?a?ve.org
For informa?on on the Partnership Brokering Project: partnershipbrokers.org
To connect with other partnership prac??oners: partnershipforum.org
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