What do we know about managing effective partnerships?

• Select a leader or steering committee with a clear understanding of the group's mission. Leadership should be able to:
  • encourage participation from all members,
  • structure fair and productive group interactions,
  • negotiate among organizations and individuals with different agendas, and
  • maintain enthusiasm through good and difficult times.
• Establish ground rules and policies for how to conduct meetings, create records, make decisions, and work with the media. Create an open environment where people feel comfortable expressing themselves. Establish early on processes for addressing disagreements and reaching resolution.
• Create an action plan that identifies who will do what, how it will be done, and by when.
• Periodically review the action plan and analyze its effectiveness.
• If your plan has not been effective, consider what factors have contributed to its limited success, and rethink future strategies. If your plan has been successful, assess what factors contributed to this success.
• When recruiting new partners,
  • consider collaborations with national service programs and non-affiliated agencies and businesses;
  • find out who might be interested and receptive to your cause—then make phone calls; and,
  • describe project goals so prospective partners have a clear understanding of who you are and what you're about. Point out how and where your goals and theirs may overlap.
• Plan for—and expect—membership turnover. Keep a list of potential members and maintain regular communication to involve them at different stages.
• Recognize the relationship between administrative barriers and project work. Discuss those barriers, and do what is possible to address them.
• Encourage group cohesion by supporting relationship building within the group and the larger community.
• Make sure to celebrate successes.

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