Partnerships

Staying In Your Lane?
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In meteorological recorded history, hurricanes and tropical cyclones have not crossed the equator. There is a distinct gap between their documented paths.

What is the gap between your enterprise’s work and those of partners and affiliates? Is the unique land of travel discussed, reviewed, and confirmed? Would it benefit from generative conversation, or does tradition dictate perceived autonomy? Is your cause’s lane of travel yours, or has nobody else attempted to merge onto the route? What if everything merged tomorrow? What if a barrier forced an even wider gap?

Trail Companions

There are times when we select our trail companions, there are times they select us, and there are times when we happen to occupy the same section of the trail. I was running in the mountains when a dog decided to join me for a portion of my run. The adventurous canine appeared happy and confident, so I assumed good intentions. After a couple minutes of shared navigation, I noticed another trail user with an umbrella below me on the lower switchbacks, and the dog dutifully returned to their owner.

We do not always get to pick our partners while doing the work that matters. Sometimes, we join forces after strategic decisions; other times, circumstances compel us into a shared space, and occasionally, we just happen to be occupying the same point in our work (or organizational lifecycle).

How might we be open to all types of partnerships, not just the ones that primarily benefit us? How might we recognize that being a trail partner offers assurance to those who might have doubts or need a little inspiration to continue their journey?