4 of 5

Write now Article Tools

What is a strategic alliance? My definition of a strategic alliance is when two or more people can benefit equally from a professional relationship. Below are six tips that can help you create, maintain, and grow strategic alliances:

1. Make a Friend Think about who are the people you like most, admire, and want to help. The people who come to mind are probably your friends. The point is that we like to help people who are our friends.

2. Think Win/Win In Steven Covey's book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People he asserts, "If both people aren't winning, both are losing." When you approach a friend with the intent of wanting to help him and yourself, you will be surprised at what great things can happen.
3. Share a mission One element that is critical to developing strategic alliances is when you and a partner share a mission. For business people this is might be sharing financial goals, or for nonprofit leaders this might be sharing the same mission to make a positive difference in the world.
4. Make Sure Both Sides Benefit If both sides aren't benefiting from the relationship, you need to renegotiate the relationship. Because if one person is getting a better deal than the other, it won't be long until the relationship diminishes and is terminated by the person who isn't benefiting from the relationship.
5. Build Rapport In Tony Robbins book Unlimited Power, he dedicates an entire thirty three page chapter on how to build rapport. He labels rapport as one of the most important elements in building relationships to align yourself for success.
6. Share goals This is very similar to sharing a mission, but it is more focused on concrete destinations and milestones.

I hope these tips will help you to develop strategic alliances in business and life.

Learn more about this author, Christopher Scott.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Tips for developing strategic alliances?
We want to hear your view. Write now!