Bruce Johnson’s Post

🤝 Strategic partnerships are vital in business, elevating ventures to new heights when nurtured right. Today, let's explore the power of gratitude in these connections: 🌟 Gratitude Advantage in Partnerships Building Trust: Genuine appreciation fosters trust, a cornerstone of successful partnerships. Open Communication: Valued partners communicate openly, sharing insights crucial for adaptation. Strengthened Commitment: Recognizing efforts deepens commitment to shared goals. Gratitude enhances collaboration, trust, and shared success in partnerships. Reach out today to leverage our expertise in cultivating and strengthening these alliances. #StrategicPartnerships #BusinessAlliances #CollaborativeSuccess #BusinessSuccessFactors #ProfessionalRelationships

What does it take to build truly great partnerships? In my experience, truly great partnerships are built on a foundation of trust. Once the foundation is solid, it will bear fruit. There is no fast path to building a trusted partnership. It happens by: - Investing time - Aligning values - Being honest - Showing up in the hard moments - Believing in collective vision of greatness As the great leader Bill McDermott wisely said, “Trust is built in drops and lost in buckets.” This reminds us of the delicate nature of trust and the importance of nurturing it consistently. Let’s commit to building trust in our partnerships, everyday, one drop at a time. #trust #partnerships

🎭 Pull Back the Curtain and Spotlight Your Partner Collaboration. Ongoing Learnings from the Trenches: While your teams are crushing it together, the C-suite often has no clue! 🤯 I've seen partnerships skyrocket from good to great when execs glimpse the magic happening on the front lines. Don't just tell them—show them! Get creative in bringing the bigwigs into the action on all sides. Think carefully about coordinated annual meetings, and inviting your CEO to select partner functions. Give them a taste of the real wins and collaborative energy and you'll be adding rocket fuel to the fire🔥 #PartnershipSpotlight #ExecutiveEngagement #CollaborationWins #partnerships #alliances Winborne Consulting, LLC

"We just want to let you know that we aren't those kinds of bad partners you hear about. We aren't greedy and like to take care of our teammates." It's been a running theme I've been hearing when discussing potential partnerships with companies. Usually, it's oddly at the beginning of the discussion when they are talking about themselves. Do you know where this comes from? A lot of growing businesses have been burned by their partners when starting out. There are usually two reasons why: greed/ ego or growth demands from bigger corporate leadership. Greed/ego is obvious. You've heard that executive leadership that says: "Well, aren't we doing most of the work? We should be getting more from the contract. Let's figure out how to do that." It's shortsighted but unfortunately, common. The second is a bit more nuanced. A healthy company grows its footprint with current clients. It's the easiest path in any market because selling to current clients, if you are doing a good job, should be the easiest path to growth. But, there aren't always ways to grow your contract. It might just be exactly the way it is. So, when leadership says, "We need to grow our footprint in Energy by X percent" usually the larger companies claw back as much of the work to their organization as they can. Sure, there are always small business set-asides they have to meet. But, we've all been a part of those really large deals where we have 20+ teammates. You've got a unique company for every special requirement and an amazing mix of past performance. But post-award, how many of those teammates are still around actually getting workshare? Usually only a select few. This is why so many companies that are successful in subcontracting still decide to pivot to target more prime contracts. They want to control their growth destiny. Partnerships matter in any market and especially in the Federal government. If someone leads with: "We care about our partners." even if it sounds awkward, be glad you are hearing that because they understand the importance of good partnerships in this marketplace. #sellingtothegovernment #govcon

🎉 The network we build in Partnership Leaders is growing in strength and numbers! January saw us grow even more, with new companies joining the fold, underscoring the unmatched value that partnerships bring to the table. Cheers to creating endless opportunities, collaborations, and a network that uplifts and amplifies. Join the leading community for partnership, alliance, and ecosystem experts now! Membership link in the comments 👇 #partnerships #companygrowth #privatenetwork

“The real work of strategic partnerships begins after the press release—true collaboration is in the execution.” This is just one of the gems shared during a roundtable discussion at Metropolitan Partners Group's recent Executive Circle breakfast in Atlanta. Topics included strategic partnerships, funding, and capital-efficient growth. Other insights from the strategic partnerships discussion: 💡Strategic partnerships are more than technical integrations or referral programs. They require a deep understanding of your partner’s goals and KPIs. 💡Consistently educate your team on the value of the partnership. This keeps everyone aligned and prevents breakdowns later on. 💡No partnership is 50/50. If you’re not ready to carry the administrative load, it’s better to pass. What are your non-negotiables before entering a partnership? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

As Ian celebrates his 25th year since starting his practice, we will be sharing some of his very valuable learnings and experiences over this time. To kick this series off, he’s put together a great article “how do you get more impact from your partnering?”. It’s a quick 5-minute read which outlines simple yet effective techniques to help you evaluate your partnering performance. Click the link below to read more

Elevate your partnership strategies with insights from top CEOs who have mastered successful collaborations. In 'Doing Partnerships Right: CEO Tips', learn proven techniques for forging alliances that drive long-term value and minimize risks. Explore mutual goals, joint planning, shared values, cultural fit, managing ecosystem risks, and measuring success. Stay ahead of the curve and unlock the potential of strategic partnerships. #Partnerships #CEOTips #BusinessGrowth #Collaboration

As Ian celebrates his 25th year since starting his practice, we will be sharing some of his very valuable learnings and experiences over this time. To kick this series off, he’s put together a great article “how do you get more impact from your partnering?”. It’s a quick 5-minute read which outlines simple yet effective techniques to help you evaluate your partnering performance. Click the link below to read more:

What have you done for me lately? In business partnerships, adopting a 'what have you done for me lately' attitude is short-sighted. This approach often overlooks the long-term benefits of a partnership, eroding any trust and loyalty. It's essential to remember that successful partnerships are not just about immediate results but also about building enduring relationships and valuing mutual growth over time. A balanced perspective that appreciates past contributions while focusing on future upside should be the focus.