I woke up with an idea to create a forum for women to be educated to get health and stay healthy. The first thought that came to mind following the idea was a collaborative one. Although I belonged to a faith-based organization, I was not a leader for any department or ministry. I called on the Women's Ministry leader and asked if I could make a presentation to her team at their next meeting. She graciously agreed, not knowing what I had on my mind. Three weeks later, I pitched a one day health conference that would include two keynoters, five workshops, breakfast, lunch and a marketplace for female entrepreneurs to sell their products. The event would focus on health of body, mind and soul, as well as create a network for women to share their needs in a safe environment.
Needless to say, I didn't have a budget, but the day, I got a team that would manage registration, workshop coordination and the meals. Our church campus had enough space for the workshops. I collaborated with women's ministries to do something that had not been done before and it was an amazing success. The following year we moved to a downtown hotel and hosted that event for 13 years on that property with my faithful sisters fully supporting every event. They were the best registration team I've worked with yet.
My next collaborative venture came by happenstance when I called the Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health, Region IX to request a women's day planner they were giving away at no charge. When the point of contact asked how many I wants, I replied, "Can I get 100?" Actually, I wanted 200, but didn't want to push the envelope. The response was, "What are you going to do with 100 planners?" After I shared about my women's conference, she asked if all I wanted was 100. The conversation that day o
pened to the door to not just day planners, but email blasts for every resource the Office of Women's Ministry offered throughout the year including funding, training, networks, grants, contracts and opportunities to collaborate on initiatives sponsored by the department.
Ten benefits of collaboration
Collaboration morphs from one opportunity to another
Collaboration is fluid and dynamic
Collaboration provides opportunities that never happens in silos
Collaboration may begin small but it is limitless
Collaboration is non-threatening
Collaboration is about people helping people
Collaboration provides room for capacity building
Collaboration is action driven
Collaboration requires commitment
Collaboration creates sustainability
Five collaboration challenges
Finding the right fit for your organization
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses before saying "Yes"
Understanding the time, scope and budget involved
Maintaining open communication with collaborators
Assessment and evaluation of projects
My collaboration journey began, unbeknownst to me, with a simple phone call. Twenty-two years later, my collaboration with one contact was the catalyst for Innovative Impact. I have the training, experience and knowledge to show others how to venture out and take advantage of opportunities just a phone call away.
Innovative Impact's training in collaboration and capacity building is based on experience, knowledge and skills. We know a thing or two about collaboration and want to share it with you.
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