Finding Allies, Building Alliances: 8 Elements that Bring - and Keep - People Together MP3 CD – Unabridged, March 11, 2014

Leavitt and McKeown write the definitive book on alliances and collaboration. In a succinct 200 pages, they initially provide a "101" primer that seamlessly evolves into a post-graduate curriculum replete with their real-life "alliance," experiences.After reading, I readily concur with their assertion, ". . . success will be defined by the collaborative alliances you form or join. Participation in an alliance is an investment decision because it allocates your resources, including time, money, and people."Based on their varied experience, they share the eight key elements that they believe are necessary for successful collaborations; devoting a chapter to each component. Each chapter is instructive and with numerous real-life collaboration examples ranging from the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to the creation of the Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX) to General Stanley McChrystal's Afghanistan/Taliban strategy in 2009.To enhance any organization's problem-solving capability they introduce the importance of the "value alliance;" the pursuit of "value" is the purpose and "alliance" is the platform. Collaboration is the means."I thoroughly enjoyed the last three chapters wherein they outline how to maximize one's participation in collaborations. In particular, I thought their instruction in Chapter 10 on "collaborative intelligence," was both instructional and fascinating.Of particular interest was their insight of today's collaboration mandate, "(Value alliances) will undoubtedly increase due to a confluence of four key trends: digitization, transportation technology, geopolitical expansion of market-based economies, and the pressure of mounting sovereign debt within industrialized economies. Individually, each of these factors causes the number of collaborative alliances to increase. Collectively, they represent a new platform for productivity enhancement."I highly recommend Finding Allies, Building Alliances. As the authors suggest, "once sensitized to the existence of value alliances, you will begin to see them everywhere," and this book will better prepare you to optimize your next collaboration; either as a leader, convener or active participant. Excellent read!

Mike Leavitt and Rich McKeown have opened a proverbial window, and illustrated paths to creating synergistic results through innovative collaboration strategies and tactics.Resulting from the release of Finding Allies, Building Alliances, there has been much discussion about these key principles among our clients and partners in building cultures of "collaborative intelligence" to better serve the needs of our customers and stake-holders. Our clients have real problems that require meaningful solutions. Mike & Rich emphasize that with the right alliance structure, team and commitment will emerge new opportunities that will be embedded in the solutions of the challenges we face.I have watched with great admiration the growth and success of the Leavitt Insurance Group, 2002 Olympic Winter Games, and improvements at the State of Utah, E.P.A. and Health & Human Services. All of these successes resulted directly Mike and Rich's tried and tested formula of effective collaboration.Finding Allies, Building Alliances is not only a "Must Read", but is worthy of thoughtful deliberation and execution of the outline to solve your real problems and capitalize on new opportunities that will emerge from engaging in a disciplined collaboration.

I used this as a learning event at an executive retreat yesterday. I paired up members of our team and assigned each pair to read a specific chapter of the book and then present a simple 10 minute summary of the learning, application to our organization and their wish for the team. We found these concepts and techniques very applicable in our work setting. Later in the session we did "real work" together to practice what we learned earlier in the day. I am grateful to Mike and Rich for giving us a new common language to help us be a cohesive team, aware of our conveners, leaders and how to keep our Northbound Train moving swiftly toward success.

It doesn't take long to recognize the knowledge and value that are brought to life in this book. Having read hundreds of leadership books over the years, with each one claiming to have found a "new" edge, Finding Allies, Building Alliances comes to the plate and delivers a new component to the leadership paradigm. With their years and wealth of experience on a grander scale than most of us have lived, it's surprisingly easy to understand the examples and apply the principles to our everyday walks of life. This is a great read that you're sure to enjoy--and then want to share with others.

I'll admit that I'm completely biased here: I live in the state where Mike Leavitt was Governor for three terms and was the disproportionate beneficiary of his keen ability to convene disparate groups and collaborate. The book lays out in clear terms the principles for successfully convening stakeholders in his classic compelling story-telling fashion. Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to listen to Governor Leavitt in person knows why this book is worth reading - and perhaps memorizing.

Leavitt and McKeown outline both the necessary traits to forming collaborative alliances, as well as the reasons why they elicit superior results, in a simply laid out manual every person in a leadership position or those aspiring to achieve such a role should read. With real-world examples and stories of life experiences that most of us will never have the fortune to have, the book is both an educational and fascinating must read.

Finding Allies, Building Alliances provides great insight into the process of solving complex problems with multiple stakeholders. I've already started using a number of these principles in civic councils that I'm a part of and I've been surprised how some of the simplest ideas presented have profoundly affected the quality of the dialogue and outcomes of our discussions. I highly recommend this book.