Collaboration + the value of it.

Small business owners and entrepreneurs can easily fall into a disparity mindset when it comes to their enterprise. It is not hard to develop tunnel vision, looking out only for yourself and your business. 

In these situations, the opposite reaction can help grow your business. Looking outside of your plans can create a healthier environment and a brighter future by observing what others are doing, and staying aware of industry trends. This is where your competition becomes more than that; they become your collaboration partner, and we can learn to actually appreciate our competition! 

Collaboration and support are not only an asset to you; they are also an asset to your organization. You can create a community of those around you. Your competitors can also be a source of inspiration! In a small business circle, you need others, and they need you, too. The key is recognizing that necessity. 

The lie is “we can make it on our own.” To be successful, your industry needs to work together in harmony. 

This does not indicate that you should let your competitor steamroll your business. This means strategically reaching out to form a relationship. Truly, all of life is about relationships, but especially in business. The phrase “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” doesn’t always have to be negative. If you help another business out, the odds of them helping you out in a pinch are significantly higher. 

Collaborating is looking out for yourself. It may seem like a backwards business decision, but in the long run, it can produce success. You may be thinking, “OK, I understand the process, but what are the benefits?” Here is a short list:

1. Expanded Performance

Teamwork can be a challenging environment to master, but once everyone learns to work with others, it is amazing the output that can be done.

2. Combined Expenses & Resources

Apart from shared ideas, costs and resources can also be split. This provides not just a practical benefit, but a mutual advantage.

3. Unlocked Insight

Now that you have more at your table, sharing knowledge and experiences has never been easier! The idea flow can be endless in working with your competitors. 

The very nature of a small business is that it is different from a big corporation. Marketing should be planned differently, with a distinct structure. Small companies are unique in their makeup. Each has a personal brand and message that are exclusive to it. 

Now that the benefits have been defined, look at some practical methods in collaboration:

1. Determine your partners.

Not everyone will benefit you (and you won’t benefit everyone). Find a business or entrepreneur that matches you. What industry are they in? Do they have a similar target audience? What are their goals?

2. Remember your values.

It is very important to align here when it comes to collaboration. Do you and your partner have open, honest communication? Do you trust and respect one another?

3. Brainstorm ideas.

This one is simple, but easily overlooked! Your collaboration partner is there to bounce concepts and ideas off of. Lean on them for inspiration and offer your proposals, too.

Take that step to reach out to a competitor or another business owner you admire. Understand the competition, respect it, and appreciate it. When both parties are honest and upfront about the condition, that is when sales and reach can take off. 

Together, dive deeper into your specific industry. Collaboration is designed to create confidence in your work. This is only achieved through research and collaboration. Relationships with anyone hold a risk of being messy. When handled correctly and communicated effectively, a collaboration can be an unstoppable force. 

If this concept has struck a cord with your business, we would love to connect. At Oak + Willow Creatives, we value collaboration within our industry. Reach out today!