Admittedly, since I started my own business, I’ve usually been focused on working solo. Of course, I had my clients I was collaborating with, but I wasn’t providing services with anyone but me, myself, and I. It felt like the easiest way to go about things, and I felt confident in maintaining the freedom of my schedule, the freedom of how I worked, and the alleviation of any unnecessary friction.
I recently started collaborating with two other incredible women on a new offering (stay tuned!), and it has turned out to be an incredibly fulfilling experience. While it wasn’t necessarily something that any of us were seeking out, it intuitively felt right and so we all said a heck yes to it.
Much of the reason the collaboration has been so enriching thus far is because of the women I’m working with. When entering a collaboration, it’s important to be selective and ensure that you share the same values and working styles as your collaborators. That will make all the difference.
So if you’re like me and uncertain about collaborating with others, let’s talk about some of the benefits of working together with aligned partners.
Learn from Each Other
When forming a collaboration, you’re typically partnering together for a reason. This reason is likely because you share complementary skill sets. While there may be some foundational similarities, you likely have varying expertises that can come together to create incredible value.
When you come together with experts in their respective fields, you have the opportunity to learn and grow in new ways without even having to sign up for a course or a workshop. As they bring their knowledge to the table, you not only get a front row seat but you learn how your expertise can synergize with others.
This is also true if you are working with other experts in your field. While you are in the same field, we’re not robots. We all have different focuses in our work and different ways of going about completing our work where we can all learn from each other. For example, in the world of ghostwriting, writers focus on different genres and niches of books as well as deploy varying processes.
Through collaborating, you may find great new tools to add to your toolbox or find sparks of wisdom and inspiration that catalyze your own personal growth.
Tap into New Networks
When you collaborate with others, you can tap into new networks. You all essentially get access to each other’s networks. And chances are that if you’re collaborating on an offering, the networks of the folks you’re collaborating with are the same people who may be in need of the expertise that you offer.
In a really powerful collaboration, the network would benefit from all the services that are being provided because they all build on top of each other. This shared network also builds trust. If you are collaborating with someone, their network automatically has an increased level of trust in you because they trust your partner.
This is an organic method of business development for all involved.
Share in the Workload
The most obvious benefit of collaborating with others is getting to share in the workload. Instead of having to ideate and execute on a new offering by yourself, you get to work together with other people you respect to address any blind spots and polish this idea up so it’s ready to truly shine.
You also have a team of people working to execute on the idea. There is more opportunity to divide and conquer some of the less fun parts of a new offering, such as logistics, administrative items, etc.
Finally, working together in a group or partnership provides built-in accountability. When other people who you value your relationship with are depending on you, it’s a motivator to get going on the work that needs to be done, rather than dragging your feet.
If collaborating on a book sounds like something you would love support with, let’s chat! Book a free strategy session using the link below.
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.