Ending a partnership thoughtfully need not signal failure.
In business and collaboration, relationships with individuals matter the most. Cathie Jilovsky (Former CAVAL CIO) states, ‘It doesn’t matter what technical and business skills you have, relationships are what gets the job done.‘ This principle lies at the heart of successful corporate partnerships, where the synergy between individuals can lead to remarkable achievements. Although partnerships are essential and fruitful, there comes a time when one must learn the art of letting go.
Ending a collaboration, when done thoughtfully, doesn’t have to signal failure. Instead, it can open doors to new opportunities and allow relationships with individuals to thrive and be utilized for other meaningful partnerships, all while continuing to bring value to customers.
CAVAL with a rich history of partnering with international vendors to bring their products into the Australian market (Prenax, Jisc, Relais, and Turnitin, to name just a few), understands this concept well. These partnerships have not only expanded the reach of our partners but have also benefited our members and the broader library community.
Partners may perceive CAVAL as a stepping stone to enter the market, only to part ways once they establish themselves. However, from a broader perspective, we should not necessarily view this as a negative outcome, as many entrepreneurial projects start this way.
Typically, two entities collaborate where one entity possesses a vision and the other assists in realizing it. Striking a delicate balance between making responsible contributions and allowing the organic emergence of ideas from each participant is imperative.
The art of letting go, relinquishing control and moving on at the right time is central to successful collaboration. CAVAL considers these as short-term opportunities for benefit and evolution, rather than viewing them as lost long-term services resulting from partnerships. These solutions have had lasting positive effects on members and the library community and have enabled us to proactively welcome new, exciting, and beneficial ventures for our members.
As Cathie aptly puts it, ‘Maybe the partnerships aren’t always long-term; if they are, it’s a bonus.’ Ultimately, it’s the collaboration, the learning, and the shared value that truly matter.
Contributors:
Cathie Jilovsky with a Computer Science background began her library experience with a library systems role at La Trobe University Library. She later obtained a Diploma in Librarianship. She retired from CAVAL as CIO in 2014 after 22 years with us.
Jaime McCowan is the CEO of CAVAL and has over 20 years of experience with the company in various roles in technical services, administration, member services, digitisation, and sales.
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