STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING RESILIENT GOVERNMENT-CONTRACTOR PARTNERSHIPS
Most people can work together in spite of disagreements. When organizations join forces, however, more complex challenges emerge. The partnership’s resilience – how well it handles disruptions and bounces back – hinges on the strength of its supporting structures.
In the intricate world of federal government agencies, partnerships with contractors are vital for bridging gaps and delivering specialized skills and services that benefit the public. Whether partnering one-on-one or team-to-team, the success of your collaboration with “the other side” will depend on how well you clarify goals and maintain strong connections throughout your project’s lifecycle.
These strategies can help you and your team cultivate robust, resilient working relationships.
Clarity
Clear communication is the cornerstone of all successful partnerships, particularly those under contract. Government workers bear the ultimate responsibility for final products and regulatory compliance. While they will not “get in the weeds” of how a contractor manages its staff, they will need regular check-ins to ensure that a project stays on track. Here are some ideas for maintaining transparency.
- Shared goals. Define goals, objectives, expectations, and values at the beginning of a project, to establish the “big picture.”
- Scope and Deliverables. For each stage of the project, thoughtfully generate documents that outline the scope of work, measurable outcomes, and specific deliverables. These will serve as a compass for all participants.
- Communication channels. Establish clear written and verbal channels of communication where questions and concerns can be addressed promptly.
- Regular meetings. Hold formal and informal meetings to share updates, insights, achievements, and challenges while charting the course for the future. Strive for consistency in structuring meetings and minutes.
- Responsibilities. Clearly define and assign responsibilities to avoid confusion.
- Ongoing feedback loop. Ensure continuous improvement by paying attention to each other’s input.
Written agreements, timelines, and effective communication will keep everyone aligned throughout the project’s life cycle.
Mutual Respect
Successful collaborations thrive on a foundation of respect and trust, knowing that you can count on each other. To foster better team interactions, consider these tips.
- Cultural awareness. Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and inclusivity by respecting each individual’s values and background.
- Alignment. Pay attention to the values and mission of each participating organization.
- Expertise. Find value in each team member’s knowledge and experience. Everyone at the table has a purpose for being there and a contribution to make.
- Collaborative environment. Create a collaborative atmosphere that welcomes continuous improvement and progress. Embrace the partnership’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as the influences of stakeholders.
- Roles. Government workers and contractors bring valuable expertise to a partnership, some of which may overlap. Respect each person’s role in sharing information about trends in the field, institutional knowledge, and pending changes in leadership.
Welcoming the contributions of each team member enhances productivity.
Effective Project Management
Establishing an atmosphere of trust and respect creates a safe space where people can raise concerns and address issues. Try out the Agile mindset, which encourages shared goal setting, accountability, flexibility, and achievable milestones (Denning, 2019). Here are some project management suggestions.
- Clear objectives. Define deliverables and expectations, keeping in mind the constraints of budget, staff, time, and stakeholders.
- Clear roles. Delineate roles and responsibilities, to avoid confusion and duplication of effort.
- Progress discussions. Schedule regular meetings to evaluate progress and milestone achievements, ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
- Early problem identification. Address concerns as soon as they arise, to prevent them from escalating. Use timelines, progress reports, and metrics to help anticipate obstacles and resolve issues.
- Flexibility. Stay open to altering strategies, timelines, and approaches due to changes in project scope and emerging challenges.
- Continuous improvement. Break larger projects and tasks into smaller ones with a shorter runway. Frequently evaluate processes for ways to improve them.
- Documentation. Keep detailed records of meetings, schedules, strategies, decisions, changes, outcomes, and challenges met. This documentation is essential for tracking the team’s work.
When circumstances change, new timelines and strategies may be needed. Federal government workers and contractors can both benefit from flexibility when resources become strained.
Compliance With Policies and Regulations
All government workers and contractors must adhere to federal regulations, policies, procedures, guidelines, and standardized practices related to their partnership and the work they produce. Each person must comply with ethical principles such as upholding confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest, and placing the public’s interest above personal gain. Here are some reminders for putting these ideals into action.
- Up-to-date policies and procedures. Regularly review organizational policies and procedures to ensure that actions within the partnership remain compliant and ethical.
- Best practices and standards. Keep current on changes in your industry.
- Ethical guidelines. Establish and enforce guidelines according to legality, stakeholder impact, and alignment with both federal and contracting organizations’ values.
- Confidentiality and discretion. Honor confidentiality and use discretion with information that is shared with you, particularly on projects requiring security clearances or access to personal health information.
- Conflicts of interest. Address potential conflicts of interest promptly and transparently with appropriate personnel.
In all actions, keep in mind the organization you support and the members of the public they serve.
Recognition
People appreciate sincere recognition from both leaders and colleagues. This is particularly true in partnerships, where multiple teams may work together toward a common goal. Look for ways to encourage positivity in both written and face-to-face communications. Consider these approaches.
- Achievements. Recognize project milestones and achievements, no matter how small, in meetings, informal encounters, and personal notes.
- Innovations. Pay attention to creative approaches and innovative solutions by individuals and teams. Let people know why their contribution has been important to the project’s success.
- Team appreciation. Honor productivity, commitment, innovation, and teamwork with words and actions. Encourage team members to highlight each other’s work.
Expressing gratitude and appreciation promotes a spirit of comradery and positivity.
Conclusion
Partnerships between federal government workers and contractors are nuanced and continually evolving. Enhance resilience with the right strategies for your project.
References
Denning, S. (2019, August 13). Understanding the Agile mindset. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2019/08/13/understanding-the-agile-mindset/?sh=101fc3615c17
