Collaboration Combination
You’ve heard about win-win. You suggest it, you stipulate it, and you tell others that it is the only way you roll. Do you pride yourself on win-win relationships? Are you sure?
Sadly most business propositions are more focused on the win, as opposed to a win-win. Failure to see or understand the difference between a standalone win, and a win-win leaves at least one party misrepresented. What is worse? It seems that the longer the term of the relationship, the harder it becomes to keep the win-win atmosphere alive.
Sales and service organizations are often under pressure to month-by-month, year-by-year improve revenues, value of services, and increase profit. Their customers on the other hand, are charged with reducing expenses, getting more value while maintaining quality, and also increasing profit. Considering the customer and vendor continuum it seems like a tall challenge to consistently deliver a win-win combination. That takes us right back to the win.
A standalone win represents everyone for themselves and is certainly not a win-win. Effective collaboration requires both. It is the only combination.
Are you collaborating, or are you only winning?
– DEG
Photo Credit: Mark Morgan
