Spotting a Collaboration Opportunity and Making it Happen

One of my absolute favourite things about this job is seeing a brand new collaboration grow from that first connection at one of our meetings – and it’s not usually down to a perfect 60 second pitch. That spark comes far more often from the 1:1 chats or the conversation over the meal, and the simplest comment will reveal a shared interest or goal that could turn into a whole new partnership. 

 

So how do you spot the potential for a collaboration and then make it happen? Here’s how I’ve some of the greatest unfold, plus a few tips for nurturing that first spark into one of those match-made-in-heaven partnerships. 

There are all sorts of interactions to be had when you go networking, but the conversations that have the potential to grow into more all have this in common: they’ve each genuinely heard what the other one has to say, and there’s a real interest and understanding about each other’s business and values. They’ve discovered natural overlap between them and have a reason to stay in touch. 

 

Not every conversation will lead to a collaboration, and that is perfectly fine. The skill is learning to listen for signs that someone’s work, audience or goals may complement your own. Maybe they serve the same type of client from a different angle; maybe their clients have a problem you know how to solve; maybe you simply realise you share similar values and ways of working, and would enjoy exploring an idea together. 

 

These moments can be easy to miss if you are focused only on the small talk, so my tip is to be genuinely curious and ask open questions about what someone does, who they help, and what they are working on next. A casual remark about a project, a launch or a challenge can be the starting point for something much bigger. 

 

If you feel really inspired by a person and the conversation you had, and it’s stuck in your mind after the meeting, that’s a great sign that you’d work well together. So if you’re wondering if it might be a possibility, think about this: would a collaboration make life easier, better or more effective for one of your clients? If the answer is yes, there may be something worth developing. 

 

A promising conversation is only useful if you build on it, and within good time while it’s fresh for you both. If you follow up within a day or two, you’ll both still remember the meeting and the substance of what each other offers, what you have in common, and how energising that conversation felt, so make the most of that momentum for the next step. 

 

If you promised to send a resource or arrange a 1:1, do it promptly. Reliability is part of trust, and trust is what turns a pleasant chat into a real working relationship. 

 

Time and trust are the key ingredients for the best and strongest collaborations, so when you’ve had that conversation that just seemed to click, you need to give it time and watch the trust between you build. One good conversation at a meeting leads to a follow-up, which leads to a shared idea, which leads to a plan. 

 

The key is to approach networking with a collaborative mindset. Listen carefully, look for common ground and clients, and always do what you say you will do afterwards. It could be the start of something brilliant.