How do you share partnership insights with others?

"Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Super basic principle from Steven Covey 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. A good partnership should alleviate the corporate *pain* of each organization. While advancing the mission of the two organizations.

Alignment is Key: One of the first steps in establishing a successful partnership is ensuring that your objectives align with your partner's. This alignment minimizes potential conflicts and sets the stage for a productive collaboration. SMART Goals: When defining objectives, it's helpful to follow the SMART criteria – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This framework ensures that your goals are well-defined and realistic. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Identifying the right KPIs is crucial. It's not just about tracking metrics; it's about tracking the right metrics. Understand which KPIs are most relevant to your partnership's success and focus your efforts on those.

Know your audience Sometimes deep in the weeds metrics need to be shared and discussed And sometimes simple/high level metrics are best Keeping it simple, focusing on the most important indicators that can drive a productive conversation is key When presenting insights, make it easy for the recipient: - present data - provide context and a high level summary (interpret it for them) - suggest a corrective course of action - provide a prompt to start the conversation

understanding the partnership law of the jurisdiction is very important in order to execute a legally binding agreement with no loop holes. The partnership should always be in writing signed by the parties in the presence of witnesses. The nature of the partnership agreement depends upon the nature of business and capital. rest assured, a good partnership can create a legacy while a bad partnership can lead to destruction if business as well as relationship.

A monthly, brief e-newsletter or email or Slack communication that gives one or two points about partnership activities can be effective. This can include information about partners, current developments in a partner’s business, customer news and activities that are of general interest. The idea is to stay top of mind and supply something of value to colleagues. Consistency is key. Try not to skip a month in your outreach.

Bringing Partners into company meetings (kickoffs, semi-annual get togethers etc.) for a timeslot to share state of the union type updates internally is a great method, as well.

Understanding and aligning growth objectives to the overall company objectives and then be data driven about reporting out your results. I prefer to have a real time dashboard that anyone can view to action on and view the current state. If a real-time dashboard is not available then determine a cadence and reporting structure and be consistent with it. Tie those results back to overarching company objectives.

I have done this in various ways - reports, summary emails, presentations and giving briefings in team calls/meetings. It's best to tailor the delivery for each audience and stick to the information most useful for them or they are less likely to engage.

What I find truly great are the webinars, where every quarter or month, a different partner shares best practices and what has worked well for them. These sessions offer invaluable insights into the factors contributing to each partner's success in their region, inspiring others to consider replicating that success with tailored adjustments. The outcomes can then be documented in various formats that are easy to distribute and consume, ensuring they reach the widest audience of partners, fostering collective growth.

Set a simple structure to your presentation, be it a partner strategy or even something as simple as a partner plan. Example: - objectives & exec summary - what will be done to achieve the objectives - gaps identified & asks (or to an external audience: critical dependencies) This last section can be tailored easily to the audience, and have super simple CTAs and room to capture next steps, to ensure your partnership momentum stays on course.

Audience Understanding: Start by understanding your audience's background, knowledge, and experience related to the partnership and the topic of your insights. Are they experts in the field, or are they relatively new to this area? Tailor your message accordingly. Interest and Involvement: Assess your audience's level of interest and involvement in the partnership. Are they actively engaged in its success, or are they more passive observers? Acknowledge their level of commitment in your communication.

Different target groups require different words, so you would need to fit your partnership pitch. But one thing is always important - the answer to the question: What is in for me? How the partnership can help me?

The best way to share partnerships insights is through real experiences and tangible numbers. Be open and authentic. What you did, how you did it, and what the measurable outcome was. Share genuine successes and failures with as much detail as possible so that people can draw similarities to their own needs and questions.

Absolutely! Stories have a unique ability to engage and hold the attention of your audience. They allow you to establish a connection by tapping into emotions, sharing anecdotes, and providing real-life examples. Narratives, metaphors, and analogies can simplify complex insights, making them more accessible and relatable. Additionally, weaving in elements like challenges, conflicts, and resolutions can inspire your audience to take action based on the insights you're sharing. It's a storytelling approach that not only educates but also motivates.

Emotionally Engaging Narratives: Craft a narrative around your partnership insights that connects with your audience on an emotional level. Share real-world stories and experiences related to the insights. For example, you could tell a story about how your partnership overcame a significant challenge and achieved success. Anecdotes and Examples: Use specific anecdotes and examples to illustrate your insights. Personal stories or case studies can help make abstract concepts more relatable. Share how a particular strategy or decision impacted the partnership positively or negatively. Metaphors and Analogies: Compare your insights to familiar concepts through metaphors and analogies.

Stories, examples, use cases are always very interesting for listener. Basically it is not about the technology, but how we used it and which great results we achieved.

Feedback will help you to grow, in many cases even negative feedback will bring you much further then a positive one. Search for discontent and improve (product, process, yourself).

Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage honest and constructive feedback by asking open-ended questions. Instead of asking, "Did you like the presentation?" inquire about specific aspects: "What did you find most valuable in the insights shared?" Be Specific: Target specific areas of your presentation or insights that you want feedback on. For example, inquire about the clarity of your recommendations or the relevance of the examples provided. Active Listening: When receiving feedback, practice active listening. Give your full attention to the speaker, ask clarifying questions if necessary, and avoid interrupting. Demonstrating that you value their perspective fosters a positive feedback environment.

Absolutely, I couldn't agree more. Sharing your partnership insights is just the first step. Seeking feedback and actively listening to your audience and yourself is crucial for continuous improvement. Open-ended and specific questions can provide valuable insights into reactions, opinions, and suggestions. It's a way to show that you truly value their perspective. By analyzing and reflecting on this feedback, you not only learn from your strengths and weaknesses but also uncover opportunities for growth. It's a process that helps us evolve and refine our strategies for even better results.

Constant communication and sharing is key to success as a partner manager, with both internal and external shareholders. Keep your partner updated regularly with progress you’re making with a mutual customer. Insights your partner has shared with you about a prospect or customer could be critical in helping your own internal teams develop the right message in their own outreach and prospecting efforts. Keep everyone in the loop!

Cultural Sensitivity: When sharing insights in a diverse partnership or international context, be mindful of cultural differences. What might be effective communication in one culture could be misunderstood in another. Take the time to understand and respect cultural norms and preferences. Data Privacy and Confidentiality: If your insights involve sensitive data or information, ensure that you handle it with the utmost care and in compliance with data privacy regulations. Clearly communicate any confidentiality agreements or restrictions to your audience.