Finding Allies, Building Alliances: 8 Elements that Bring—and Keep—People Together

EIGHT

The Northbound Train

Of all the eight elements of a value alliance, the northbound train is the least tangible. Yet in many ways, it is one of the most critical. That's because collaborations are voluntary enterprises operating with presumed authority. People can leave the collaboration at any time; they can also remain as participants yet cut back on the time, effort, or resources they're willing to devote to it. When a critical mass of participants leave a voluntary alliance, the effort fails. A committed leader, no matter how skilled or influential, will struggle to hold the collaboration together when members perceive it to be dead ...