The Power of collaboration
Real World Consultancy (RWC) we believe that working together is the key to running a successful business, and we believe in the power of collaboration.
There is an often-quoted African proverb:
“If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.”
One of the things which makes us unique at RWC, is the way we take a ‘bird’s eye view’ of the businesses we work with; to identify potential collaborations and introduce the business owners to each other.
Business collaborations can add so much value to organisations.
To make this collaboration effective, we need to ensure that our values are aligned, as well as having a clear communication strategy, defined goals and objectives, alongside a measurable plan to monitor the benefits for you both.
Vanda Szabo, founder of VS Photography, joined The Enterprising Worcestershire Business Coaching programme in 2021, as an opportunity to meet new people and grow her business. The programme is funded by Worcestershire County Council and is delivered by RWC.
As Vanda gained more confidence and clarity in her business and messaging, she also developed a more structured approach and focus from working with RWC.
Vanda reached out to RWC Director, Emma, and as with all good meetings, we started off with a coffee at The Kiln - the brilliant co-working space in central Worcester.
A collaboration ensued, and this means that we gained a branding photographer as a result of Vanda's participation in the programme! And not just a photographer, but someone who 'gets' us and showcases/can translate that into our pictures. The visuals for service-based businesses can get lost and often lack clarity, so we wanted to ensure that each and every one of our visuals accurately conveys who we are and what we do.
Creating content
Vanda created all of the content for us to create our first business magazine. Without wonderful photographs it wouldn't have been possible. Get your free copy here to see what we mean.
We showcased our magazine when we shared a stand at the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Expo in 2022.
As we think Vanda's work is amazing, we try to promote her everywhere, so she gets clients, and she promotes us and gives us awesome pictures, so we also get clients... it's a win-win situation!
It all started with a cup of coffee.
Collaborations don't happen by accident; they happen by reaching out, having an open dialogue, and providing support to each other.
Think about how you can collaborate to boost your business.
Here are our 3 top tips for a powerful collaborative partnership: -
Engage with people who have the same audience as you, who share your values, and whom you think you will "click" with.
Create list of ways that you can collaborate…create referral programmes, events, webinars, content, podcasts, products…you name it, you can do it!
Don't assume that a brilliant collaboration will happen right away, you may just find a friend, a sounding board, or someone who can help you cope with the isolation of being a business owner.
So, as you can see, at RWC we love a good collaboration, and we love the way successful collaborations can result in sustainable growth. Let’s celebrate the power of working together! Read about another collaboration too!