In the last six months, our country (and the world) has been navigating an onslaught of challenges: funding cuts, attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and uncertainty around executive orders, legislative actions, and judicial decisions. As a result, we are asked to do more with less and make sense of changes that have disrupted long-term strategies and everyday operations.
Amid the shock of scarcity, fear, and fragmentation, the path forward is collaboration. Only by rooting in shared purpose, aligning values, and mutual care will we move through crisis toward lasting transformation.
What is collaboration? Literally, collaboration means “working together.” It seems simple enough, but not all collaborations are the same. Collaboration can occur within an organization, between sectors, and across political lines. Working together can happen on a short or long timeline. It can also include informal networks with loose participation or formally established coalitions with charters, budgets, and work plans. Collaboration might involve centralized decision-making through established partners or decentralized, emergent leadership. It goes by many names: advisory council, task force, commission, collaborative, coalition, public-private partnerships, collective impact, and more. In any case, collaboration blends differences in power, positionality, and experience to achieve something no one could do alone.
What makes for good collaboration? Well… it depends. What drives collaborations, the dynamics among collaborators, and the complexity of the desired goal or outcome all compound to make each collaboration unique. Sometimes these elements come together naturally. When there’s an urgent issue, strong relationships, committed people, dedicated resources, and shared skills, collaboration can be fluid and organic.
But when things are messy or no one can prioritize the time for creating the collaborative space, you need a skilled, principled guide. This can be someone to surface unspoken fears, identify existing assets, align visions, and co-create processes that respect differences and build trust.Or maybe you have recognized the need for a facilitator or guide who has the time, expertise, and external perspective to support a collaborative effort, which can save your organization time, money, and energy.That’s where we come in.
Pause to reflect: When was the last time you had a collaboration that went well? What about the collaboration made it work?
What makes IG good at collaboration? As one of our company’s values and a principle of our cooperative structure, collaboration is our default. Over the past 25 years, IG has been fostering collaboration within our teams and cultivating these practices for clients.
Our unique approach to collaboration brings:
- Skills in facilitation, convening, and strategy design
- Tools, like an agenda roadmap, to support groups to meet their goals
- Deep experience in equity-driven approaches
- Breadth of experience working with diverse clients in diverse contexts
People often ask for a “neutral third-party” to navigate collaboration. But we’re not neutral: we’re principled. Our mission, vision, and values shape how we collaborate. For us, that’s working together with integrity, compassion, and a commitment to equity. It is also with a sharp focus on using your time, energy, and resources in the most strategic and impactful ways possible. As our client told us,
“This project felt like a miracle. It felt like a moonshot to get The Improve Group facilitators and the incredible group of Task Force members together in such a tight time frame [to develop recommendations]. The completion and quality of work was a tremendous success, with IG helping the group to focus.”
Ready to collaborate with us? You don’t have to navigate the complexities of today’s world alone. We’ll meet you and your collaborators where you are, with care, clarity, and strategy. Whether it’s a hybrid meeting to explore the challenges your community faces, or guiding you and your partners through the full phase of ideation, deliberation, and the joint action of a collaborative network, we’ve got you covered.
Ready to explore what working together with us could look like for you? Reach out to Dan Goldstein on our business development team at dang@theimprovegroup.com.