The Power (and Pitfalls) of Partnerships

Designing Tomorrow: Creative Strategies for Social Impact

Everyone loves the idea of collaboration — but real partnership? That’s harder.

From mismatched visions to unclear roles, even the most well-intentioned alliances can go sideways fast. In this episode, Eric and Jonathan break down what makes partnerships work — and what to watch out for before saying yes.

➔ The five elements every partnership needs to succeed (straight from the Collective Impact framework).
➔ The one conversation to have before committing to collaborate.
➔ How to recognize when you’re serving the mission — and when you’re just serving the relationship.
➔ Why a shared measurement system matters more than you think.
➔ The quiet risk of over-partnering — and how to protect your team from burnout.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, Should we partner?, this episode will give you the clarity, language, and strategy to answer with confidence.

Don’t just partner for the sake of it. Partner for impact.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:00] Realistic measurement: Start small, build from there
• [00:54] Why collective impact matters—and when it works
• [02:36] Weekly partnerships: A look inside nonprofit realities
• [03:51] Ingredient #1 – Common Agenda: Avoiding false alignment
• [06:14] Ingredient #2 – Shared Measurement: Keep it simple and aligned
• [11:56] Leading vs. lagging indicators in collaborative efforts
• [11:56] Ingredient #3 – Mutually Reinforcing Activities: Define your role
• [14:57] Ingredient #4 – Continuous Communication: Keep the momentum
• [15:44] Ingredient #5 – Backbone Support: Ownership drives sustainability
• [19:31] Human friction: Ego, credit, and collaboration fatigue
• [20:23] When to pursue partnerships—and when not to
• [22:54] Self-awareness over scope creep: Do what you do best
• [26:35] Group project syndrome: Don’t say yes if it’s not a win-win
• [27:59] Should partnerships have an exit clause?

Resources:

• Article - “Collective Impact” by John Kania & Mark Kramer - Stanford Social Innovation Review
• Article - Turning Stats Into Stories: Supercharge Your Social Enterprise’s Proof of Impact
• Article -Defeat Mission Creep and Master Your Nonprofit's Messaging to Maximize Impact
• Article - Are You Using Your Power or Giving it Away?
• Podcast - Are You Bold Enough To Lead The Conversation?

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Thank you for all that you do for your cause and for being part of the movement to move humanity and the planet forward.

Fejezetek

1. The Challenge of Measuring Success (00:00:00)

2. Five Elements of Collective Impact (00:08:15)

3. The Power of Common Agenda (00:14:22)

4. Shared Measurement Systems (00:19:35)

5. Differentiated Roles and Communication (00:22:15)

6. When Partnerships Make Sense (00:27:27)