The first obstacles that come to mind when the subject of collaboration is raised are turf, egos, conflict, competition and distrust, even among nonprofits – maybe especially among nonprofits. These obstacles are usually seen as fatal, and collaborative initiatives usually don’t even get off the ground because of them. We start from a very cynical position. But what if, instead of bemoaning these things, or wishing they didn’t exist, or worse, being Pollyana and pretending they don’t exist, we expect them and prepare for them, in the same way the Apollo spacecraft expected and prepared for the heat of re-entry? What if we build a core competency in conflict resolution together? Hey, more than that, what if we build a core competency in nurturing trust and respect and admiration — maybe even love — among all of the partners that will be involved in this effort?
That’s the role of the Nurturing Department. It will become a laboratory for learning how to overcome the psychological, emotional and technical challenges to successful collaboration, and it will apply what it learns in real time. We regard it as every bit as important as the finance operation or the Brainstorming, Giving and Explanation Departments.
Jason Teeters leads the Nurturing Department. He’s here to talk to you about specific issues you’re encountering or want to be prepared for, and would love to talk about ways you can help with the nurturing dynamics of the initiative. Contact Jason to start a conversation.
Hi, I’m Jason Teeters. Let’s talk about how we can nurture the partnership you’re trying to get going, or let’s talk about what skills you have that you’d like to contribute. Email me and I’ll get in touch right after that!