Partnerships are crucial in today’s culture. Great organizations seem to always have a strong ability to partner well. If you want to grow your organization or project or initiative, finding, building and sustaining great partnerships has to be part of your plan.

Partnerships are not always easy, though. Teaming up with one another can result in true synergy—or, many times, can result in ultimate failure.

Here are a few thoughts on why creating great partnerships is a must for you and your organization:

1. Partnerships allow you to share risk and reward. Creating less downside and potentially way more upside always make sense.

2. Partnerships create innovation, breakthrough and discovery. Working with others allows for input from outside your normal circle of staff or key team members.

3. Ministries and churches have to work harder to create partnerships. Partnerships are very common in the business world, but for some reason in the not-for-profit world, it’s difficult to work together. Ministries and churches don’t partner well, but when they do, it can be revolutionary and a strong statement of unity in the community.

4. It supports kingdom-building. If we truly wish to reach our mission with the greatest velocity possible, we have to work with others. Achieving our vision and mission is much more possible when working together.

5. Good partnerships start with a deep knowledge of the other. Know your partners well before entering into a partnership with them.

6. Transparency is crucial. Authenticity and honesty make for long-term impact.

7. Strength to strength. Build partnerships on each other’s strengths, not necessarily on trying to improve a weakness.

8. Enjoy it. Partnerships don’t have to turn into friendships, but I believe partnering with folks you enjoy being around is a good decision, versus partnering with someone you really don’t get along with it. Default toward those organizations and leaders with whom you have much in common and enjoy their company.

9. Good fences make for good partnerships. Many times we don’t take time to spell out all the details of a partnership in full disclosure. It is crucial to put everything on paper in an agreement and to make sure all the details are spelled out clearly on the front end.

Brad Lomenick is president and key visionary of Catalyst—a movement purposed to equip and inspire young Christian leaders through events, resources, consulting and community. Follow him on Twitter @bradlomenick, or read his personal blog at bradlomenick.com.

For the original article, visit bradlomenick.com.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.