| 1 |
Build strong foundations |
- Don't rush the early stages - take your time
- Build personal relationships - get to know each other
- Take time to identify shared agendas
- Take time to develop a written agreement
|
|
| 2 |
Find common ground |
- Explore your respective interests, policies, values & manifesto promises
- Identify shared, common interests, policies & values
- Develop a shared agenda & key priority
- Be clear where there are divergent interests & policies (& clarify how these will be managed)
|
|
| 3 |
Always have a written agreement |
- Any initial verbal agreement needs to be followed up with a written agreement
- Never shortcut this stage
- Any necessary adjustments to a written agreement need careful negotiation
|
|
| 4 |
Build intentional relationships across the groups |
- Stable coalitions thrive where time is taken to build intentional relationships across the coalition groups
- Relationships should not be restricted to leading members of the coalition groups
- Build relationships intentionally & carefully
|
|
| 5 |
Right people for the right jobs |
- Look across the groups - where possible - to match known skills, experience (and commitment) to leadership roles
- Building a diverse, skilled leadership team will bring benefits over longer term
|
|
| 6 |
No public surprises |
- Where possible avoid public disagreements or different public messaging across the groups
- Develop co-ordinated processes for agreeing and communicating public messages
|
|
| 7 |
Keep the groups involved |
- Keep all members of coalition groups informed and involved
- Avoid the danger of a growing 'them and us' between coalition leading members and their groups
|
|
| 8 |
Invest in active communication
|
- Keeping the groups involved is a key reason to invest in communicating actively using range of methods
- Coalition working rests on effective and timely communication - it's hard work but vital
|
|
| 9 |
Learn, adapt, improve |
- Adopt an improvement focus - reflect on what's working well and what isn't and take steps to improve & adapt
- Problems will occur - how can you learn and adapt?
|
|
| 10 |
Use political nous and soft skills |
- Successful coalition leaders use their political and soft skills effectively
- Understand not just the dynamics of your own group but of the other coalition groups too
- Soft skills such as influencing, relationship building, and negotiation skills are at a premium in coalitions
|
|