Have you ever wondered how the other guys are getting things done but are too afraid to ask because they’re the competition? Today’s guest is here to explain the reasons why you are only hurting yourself when you don’t take time to build effective partnerships in digital strategy.  Today Thom Singer and Craig Brown welcome Paul Nelson, Chief Technical Strategist at Northrop Grumman to discuss the value of partnerships and collaboration in digital strategy.  Paul shares the mutually beneficial experiences he has had when collaborating with the competition, ideas for creating effective partnerships, and the importance of finding the common denominators that will allow you to get the tools you need to create the projects your company is working toward. 

 

On today’s podcast, you will learn:

The power of partnering with competitors

• Collaboration and resource sharing can be equally beneficial to all involved companies.
• Partnerships will help increase understanding of current simulation tools and data management. 
• Inviting collaboration does not have to mean that you are trying to steal secrets from the competition. 
• Effective partners take time to listen, incorporate, and then respond.

 

How to create effective partnerships

• Identify the work that each company does and ways it could be improved upon. 
• Don’t be afraid of sharing secrets at the expense of gaining meaningful knowledge. 
• Sign non-disclosure agreements to mutually protect private information. 
• Identify the enablers that will allow you to get to the end goal you are working toward, and have the conversations needed to get the tools that will help you get there.

 

Rising from intern to chief officer 

• Trying out various positions can help you identify the work you are most interested in.
• Career transitions don’t have to be triggered by dissatisfaction in your current position.
• Bringing a different perspective to your new work will benefit all invested parties.
• Understanding the culture of each company will help you be a more effective partner and employee.
• Don’t settle for status quo— be willing to challenge the why behind the way things currently are.

 

Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org