1. Building effective partnerships
David Wilcox

2. What we’ll cover… to start
How to think about partnership
Benefits, opportunities - and barriers
How to approach partnerships
What works and what doesn’t
The process of building partnership

3. First - what do you think?
When we say ‘partnership’ what comes to mind?
What does partnership mean in the context of External Systems?
What are the benefits - and barriers?

4. Benefits of partnership
Making 1+1 more than 2… sharing ideas and resources
Gaining access to skills of others
Mutual support and enthusiasm
Seeing through other’s eyes
Funding available to partnerships
Reaching wider audiences

5. Barriers and challenges
Suspicion and lack of trust
Fear of losing identity
Unacceptable inequalities of power
Poor communication
Lack of leadership, clear roles
Confused style of working
The time it takes to build trust and new relationship

6. Partnerships which aren’t
Sherry Arnstein’s ladder of participation 1969
Suggests top of the ladder is best. The key issue - who is in control.

7. A revised ladder Supporting Substantial participation Acting together
Degree of control
Deciding together
Sometime ‘lower rungs’ may be appropriate. But if you want partnership make sure that is what is offered.
Consultation
Information

8. Three views of partnership
Paperwork
Money
Jargon
Projects
‘Business’
Trust and
Relationships
Personalities
Constitution
People
Structure
Meetings
Agreement
Confidence
Skills
Procedures

9. Partnership life cycle
Initiating: What was the spark? Who’s idea? Why?
Starting: get to know each other. Create shared vision. Write agreement.
Doing: start projects. Involve others. Support each other.
Sustaining - or finishing. Do you need to keep going?

10. Tips for partnership working
Be clear on what you really want.
Check how much influence you have.
Don’t end up a token representative
Look for allies. Be sociable.
Use workshops as well as committees.
Put yourself in other’s shoes.
Organise around tasks, projects.
Be honest. Build trust.

11. Reaching an agreement Who will benefit
What are the goals, deliverables
What is our shared vision
What will each party contribute
How will decisions be made
How will conflict be dealt with
How will surpluses be shared
How will we know if we are succeeding

12. Building a relationship
Respect people’s styles and cultures
Use different ways to communicate
Go away together - away days
Do things together - projects
Expect to learn from each other
Balance competition and collaboration
Take time
Be positive! Have some fun!