Over and over again in conversations with executive directors about their experiences in collaboration, trust has been a recurring theme. One thing seems clear, for any collaboration to be successful, at least some level of trust needs to be there.
Hard times can elicit a tendency to draw inward and close off.
Unfortunately, this does not promote fertile ground for the growth of trust, not to mention collaboration. Case studies of successful collaborative ventures reveal some interesting patterns. When entering into a collaborative venture, people tend to look first toward the partners of previous productive working relationships. As with many relationships, starting slowly may be the way to go. Approach the other agency with your proposal for a small, low-risk collaboration.