After winning a Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships I was asked to speak the following year at the awards presentation. Here is a modified version of what I shared.
My company Admin Bandit is in its tenth year of a successful partnership with the Canberra Preschool Society (CPS) and we have won two Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships (ACT). During this time, our partnership has far exceeded our initial plan to develop an accounting software package to make the task of being a volunteer treasurer in a community organisation fast and easy. I’m delighted to say the partnership has been an honour and privilege, not to mention an award-winning experience. So I’d like to share with you my top seven tips for establishing and maintaining a rewarding and long-lasting partnership.
1. Focus on solutions
Is a problem a headache or an opportunity? Dwelling on the problem itself is empty — you get nothing but stress. Whereas focusing on a solution is productive and can lead to exciting opportunities to change, grow or find new ways of doing things. Thinking “outside the square” is the key to discovering successful solutions. This is about being creative, investigating a problem with an open mind, being willing to change and seeking a “big picture” perspective. For instance, I was daunted when I first took on the task of volunteer treasurer on my local preschool committee in Canberra in 1999. After a little research, however, I realised I wasn’t alone — like me, 43% of others in the position had little or no accounting experience. I approached CPS and we both saw an opportunity to use my skills in software development to create a product to solve a widespread problem. It meant taking a risk and trying something new, but the result speaks for itself — our partnership has saved local preschools over $500,000.
2. Find your balance
I like to think of a partnership in terms of a see-saw. Two people of any size, shape or colour can successfully play on a see-saw if they make the effort to adjust or shift to find the perfect balance to move in harmony. If just one person stops working for the partnership, the whole enterprise literally comes crashing to the ground. What I’m saying is that a partnership must be a mutually beneficial arrangement in which both parties need to genuinely work for the good of each other in order to gain their own benefits. This requires flexibility, selflessness and maturity, but the result is a happy balance that is to everyone’s advantage.
3. It’s not about you
Focusing on solutions goes hand-in-hand with focusing on your customers. It goes without saying that this is easier said than done, especially in a world that encourages us to think about ourselves and the bottom line. Making it easy for volunteer treasurers to deal with GST was a key aim when we began developing the Admin Bandit software. Preschool association budgets are usually stretched to the limit and we knew being able to claim back input credits would provide much-needed funds for more equipment and resources. It’s a wonderful feeling to know our partnership is enriching the lives of parents and children going through our preschool system and will do so for generations to come. In our experience, what goes around comes around, often with surprising benefits. For example, we’ve won the ACT Small Business Award in the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships for the last two years. — what a fantastic boost for our marketing and morale! We encourage you to ask how a business partnership can enrich the lives of people in your community. Answer this question and you’ll be able to meet real needs and provide a service that truly makes a difference.
4. Do your research
Research is the only way to really make sure what your partnership does meets your customer’s needs. This can be as simple as casual chats and web searches or as complex as a focus groups and surveys. The important thing is make sure your research methods help you accurately identify and understand your target market. Of course, this takes time. In our case, what started out as a product for volunteer treasurers in preschool associations evolved into a long-term pilot to test our customer’s needs right across the community sector. We used the information we gathered plus further research to make sure our software hit the mark. In the process, we discovered our customers wanted an online version of our product and have used this opportunity to develop a new partnership that will help us realise this need in the near future.
5. Look for chemistry
You choose friends you like, so why would you settle for less in a business partnership? One secret to the success our partnership is that myself and CPS Executive Officer Diane Thornton genuinely enjoy each other’s company. This is especially important in a partnership between small organisations — you need to look forward to meeting together and enjoy a good laugh. Of course, compatibility is about more than being “best friends”. It’s also about sharing the same values and beliefs about doing business, so you can work effectively and in agreement towards a common goal.
6. Know what you want
When establishing your partnership, be clear about your desired outcomes and create a plan of how you will achieve this together. Some of your individual goals may be different, so make sure your plan realistically meets the needs of both parties. In our partnership, for example, our key aim was to support the volunteers. The way Admin Bandit could contribute to this aim was by developing an accounting software package designed specifically for the treasurers. So we worked together to create a single solution to meet the desired outcome. While our partnership has grown beyond these initial expectations, they remain the foundation on which we continue to build our partnership.
7. Maintain the relationship
I have a huge outdoor table made from a slab of River Red Gum, around which I’ve enjoyed many meals with family and friends. It’s a beautiful table, but requires regular maintenance to keep it in tip-top condition. If we don’t sand and oil it every six months, the table’s rich grain and wonderful red colour starts to fade and the wood gets a bow in it. Keeping your partnership productive and healthy requires similar maintenance. Instead of sanding and oil, use open and honest communication and, where necessary, constructive criticism to refresh your vitality and smooth out any bumps. Each caring application will contribute to creating an attractive and long-lasting joint venture.