Have strategies for achieving those aims. Offer time and commitment to actively get involved and therefore are sufficiently motivated to stay the course. Use partners strengths, skill, experience and knowledge to work more effectively. Have clear decision making processes. Understand their specific role and responsibility within the partnership.
Good partnerships take time to develop.
There is a need for confidence and courage to participate but also to learn from the process. Consider how to stop bad practice e.g. unrealistic time scales, partnership in name only, consultation through 'lip service' approach. Know and build on your strengths. Terms of reference for the partnership may help. If you are interested in identifying and discussing some of the issues surrounding collaborative arrangements and partnership, or you would like to write an article about good practice in partnership working or share a partnership experience, we would like to hear from you.