- A common pain — a shared problem
- A convener of stature — an influential leader
- Representatives of substance — representatives with enough authority to make decisions
- Committed leaders — leaders committed to move the alliance forward
- A clearly defined purpose — a clear goal
- A formal charter — established rules
- The northbound train — confidence that the alliance will “get to its destination”
- A common information base — a shared pool of reliable information
“Finding Allies, Building Alliances” provides an in-depth look at each of these elements, and shares many examples of alliances that get these eight elements right. The book, Gov. Leavitt, explained, can be used both as a sort-of “investment guide,” allowing leaders to evaluate the likelihood of success for a potential partnership, and as a guide to improve the “collaborative IQ” of organizations, allowing them to work better with others — a trait he believes will be critical in our increasingly complex and networked environment.
To read more about Gov. Leavitt’s work on value alliances, read my Q&A with him here.
