8 Ideas for Strategic Collaboration and Recognition

I recently had the opportunity to observe two great examples of strategic collaboration and recognition with a couple of great community partners. We are big on that around here at Miles and Company.  In the process, I discovered some great Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer applications for owner-operators.

First, I attended a “Futures Conference” at my local community college. See, it’s time for the next long range strategic plan for Parkland College, so they did this genius thing of …wait for it…involving the stakeholders in the planning process. I love that.

Imagine the success of a long-range plan that includes input from funders, learners, employees, and community leaders from all walks of life. The format was simple – a bit of background information from three brief, distinguished, and articulate speakers, followed by round table discussions. There were a few well-chosen starter questions plus one staff member to facilitate, and another to take notes. Compiling the notes from the thirty or more tables of guests will set them well on their way to a compelling strategic plan.

Here are some ways to implement this type of strategic planning:

1. Survey your customers with specific questions. Ask them to rank services according to importance and to name the three words that come to mind about your business.
2. Have an employee retreat. Concentrate on the feedback from your customers and encourage your employees to answer the same types of questions.
3. Employ social media in a feedback loop. Choose your questions here wisely.
4. Ask local stakeholders to coffee and talk about the future together.
5. Host a community breakfast to bring together potential collaborators.

I also had the opportunity to attend the annual meeting for our local United Way. This organization uses their annual meeting as a chance to honor local heroes who have made a difference in the past year. They also honor their volunteers who make the organization successful in fundraising. They honor their partner agencies, which administer the programs and deliver hands-on services to those in need. And they celebrate their success. Here are some ways to implement this type of recognition and celebration:

1. Give several smaller awards rather than just one big one. Rather than employee of the month, how about “Safety Award,” Most Frugal” and “Sustainability Champion.”
2. Say kind things in a public setting about people who help out. What about an ad celebrating all of the charitable organizations your employees support?
3. Celebrate success with an innovative social media campaign, or even a video.

Enjoy this amazing example from the wonderful folks at United Way of Champaign County.

United Way of Champaign County 90 Years of Caring

And have a happy Monday!