If there’s one thing that has stood out for us at Your Guardian in the last few months, then it’s the importance of fostering effective collaboration. I don’t mean just from a company perspective but also from a personal point of view and your own individual brand.
Moreover, it never ceases to amaze me how often a conversation with one contact can lead to a prized connection with another, regardless of sectors, geographical locations or social circles… which is probably why I’m a keen user of social media platforms and business networks.
Take last week for example, which included a new collaboration with the Australian Institute of Fitness (AIF) on behalf of one of our latest venture’s The BodyMapper – a contemporary education provider, itself only formed recently following an impromptu call to a longstanding connection, at the time the original intention being to reach out offering mutual support.
Remarkably, my contact Down-Under is someone I met just the once, for a quick coffee back in early 2016 whilst living in Perth. At the time I was looking for a job within Education Management, similar to my last role at Premier Global, and arranged to meet up for a chat as I was keen to learn more about the AIF.
Initially nothing came from the encounter, other than we had made the effort to meet, share views and enjoyed the cut of each other’s jib. Until now, four years later through the power of LinkedIn, when the opportunity truly presented itself and collaboration was definitely the way forwards.
Quite literally just like that, we had remained loosely connected within each other’s networks, all from the comfort of our homes and on the opposite sides of the world, then spotted the synergy.
So, it got me thinking about the other connections we’ve benefitted from over the last few weeks and months, directly and indirectly, during a time when seeing the whites of someone’s eyes is generally through a screen nowadays.
On the Your Guardian front we have recently partnered with a number of Awarding Organisations to offer our services to their centres. Interestingly, these are relationships built on collaboration and support, not necessarily for direct fiscal gain.
On the flip-side, some of the clients we’re working closely with, as business consultants, have snowballed into new relationships with their governing bodies and associations.
Furthermore, there have been calls with those working within the sports industry, initially just loosely connected but quickly one of these has already led to a proposal being placed on the table that could potentially lead to a very exciting project. As if often the case with these new opportunities leverage equity in exchange for the commodities of time and experience rather than fiscal, or indeed a combination of all of the above. Ultimately, it’s this willingness to utilise a number of options to find a combination that works for all concerned that is so refreshing. Collaboration!
Moreover on a personal note, a new website is being launched this week by Koi Sports, a Community Interest Company established to sustain, enhance and grow the Grassroots Sport Sector, promoting a true “Sport for All” culture. Something I feel strongly about and within which I’ll appear as one of the Elite Champions. Whilst this is a voluntary role, I love the fact that it pools likeminded professionals together to share ideas, skills and networks to engage with communities, all through the power of corporate collaboration with grassroots sport.
Another real labour of love, I have my role as Committee Secretary for the RAF Servicing Commando & Tactical Supply Wing Association and currently in the middle of writing a chapter about my time on the operational unit, to celebrate its 50th anniversary and raise funds for two impressive memorials due to be located at the National Memorial Arboretum in 2021.
Keeping in touch with ex-military colleagues has frequently led to doors opening and we’re proud of our welfare programme that provides valuable support to many of our members, particularly during these challenging times. Being part of this military family and supporting each other for life is at the core of this unique network.
So, whether it’s Training Providers or Awarding Organisations, Sports Industry or Professional Associations, Start-ups or SMEs, highly commercial or socially responsible… offering support to each other is the way forwards and in my opinion builds for success. All roads lead to collaboration!
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