Great Partnerships: The Key to a Successful Project

Image courtesy of Salesforce

Great Projects Are The Result of Great Partnerships.

Partnerships are everywhere, and you’re probably no stranger to them! And in business, we’re well-versed that project partnerships are used both internally and externally. You may recognize them when you create content to launch a marketing campaign, host a co-branded webinar, or build innovative and fully customized solutions for your organization using Salesforce.org. Is the last one too niche? Don’t worry, we’ll get you up to speed so that when you’re ready to begin your implementation, you’re prepared.

A Salesforce implementation isn’t a marriage. Our partnerships don’t require us to work together, in a full-time capacity forever. Instead, we’re joining forces to achieve a common goal within a defined timeframe. This is not to say that a partnership doesn’t require effort. Partnerships take time and investment, with both parties committed to seeing each other’s success. By working strategically with a business partner, you’re ensuring a mutually beneficial agreement that is built on trust and a shared vision. Many vendors can sell you what you want, but having a true partner means having someone that will coach you on what’s best for your company‘s long-term business goals - even if that means turning down those easy, short-term sales.

The foundations of a successful project partnership rest on principles we recognize as the 3C’s:communication, commitment, and collaboration.To fully leverage the benefits of a partnership, all parties must be prepared to work strategically towards success.

Communication as a Tool for Project Progression 

An effective partnership requires a level of openness that needs to be actively fostered. Now, how do you do this? There’s only one answer: activecommunication.

As a critical part of all relationships and the foundation of all good partnerships, communication makes it easy to build trust and establish common objectives. Creating a shared vision or goal will serve as the most important starting point when building a partnership between the project teams. This purpose will serve as the guidepost for decision-making throughout the lifespan of the project and needs to be communicated across partners in clear and tangible components.

A true partnership is built on trust.Earned over time and never readily given, trust is built by following through on your words through actions.It’s also built through being completely transparent in your business operations and how you work together as a team. Partners need to be willing to have honest and transparent conversations about what is going well and what is not. Speaking openly and working dynamically is critical to approaching challenges as a single, cohesive unit.

A true partnership is built on trust. 

Now, how can you build a culture of communication? Here are a few key ways:

• Make expectations clear

• Provide consistent feedback

• Establish preferred communication channels

• Create an accessible project management system that documents all relevant information

• Address blockers or potential risks early-on

• Check-in with partners to ensure they feel supported and encouraged

• Remain open-minded

• Keep your partners well-informed.

If communication breakdowns occur, the project can be at stake; project delays and missed milestones can impact any project. A single stuck task creates a cascading effect because of dependencies in the project. Transparency is crucial in this case so project managers and team members can identify the bottleneck and work to find corrective solutions before it becomes too late for action. A partner will work through challenges alongside you to determine the appropriate path forward. Consistent communication is essential to understanding each other's pain points, desires, needs and to mitigating risk.

Get Ready to Commit 

As they say, all good things don’t come easy. And a successful Salesforce Implementation is no exception.

It takes time, effort, and a committed team on both sides to achieve a project's fullest potential. Our Consultants, Project Managers, and Developers are ready to take on any task with dedication, precision, and an open mind. We’re equally as excited as our partners to get the implementation going and encourage our partners to be ready for change - and embrace it!

The first step is recognizing that change will look different depending on the size of a project and team. A small team may require more flexibility to wear many hats and a large team might require additional communication to ensure the entire team is getting a clear, coherent understanding of the build. It takes work, and you should enter the partnership with the awareness that the project is no side-of-desk work.

The Value of Collaboration 

Now, you don’t want to be too needy. We get that. But we aren’t just another vendor. Vendor relationships are clearly defined and lack collaboration. They may be capable of delivering a product or service, but they aren’t invested in their client's success. On the other hand, partnerships provide incredible value for a business. You inherit a team of dedicated professionals who are skilled in their trade. Willing to be nimble and adaptable for your success, a partner goes the extra mile. We promise to commit to you and your project, to listen and understand your needs, and to collaborate on solutions forward.

When working with a partner, start by defining the roles, responsibilities, and expectations for both teams. Define who takes on particular tasks or duties during the implementation process to establish a sense of group accountability. By holding partners accountable, you create boundaries and expectations to uphold throughout the duration of the project.

At Belmar, a core component of our collaboration strategy is to ensure that you can be self-sufficient. We’ll deliver business solutions that empower your organization. Then, our experts will work with your team to provide comprehensive training that leaves you feeling capable and confident. This crafted partnership is built on collaboration and accountability.

By having a long-term outlook in our partnership, your business has an additional perspective that will set you up for success, while feeling empowered to make solid, extensible decisions along the way. We’ll collaborate with you to be a partner and not a vendor, so we can understand how you intend to change and grow over time.

We’re Here for All Your Needs 

We aren’t just forming partnerships to solve the here and now. Partnering with Belmar is an ongoing relationship that is ready to see your organization transform. All members of the team should begin a project with this mindset to ensure each partnership is rooted in communication, commitment, and collaboration.

Incorporating the 3C’s into the partnership and delivery process will be a balancing act, but for a project to succeed, they need to be a priority. As the project team learns the ins and outs of your organization, they become entrusted partners and advisors for your team. And with a long-standing relationship, there is no team better equipped to tackle your future initiatives.

Ready to get started? We’ll be here to power up your organization, together.