Housing Forum Partnering Toolkit Working as a Successful Partnering Team
Appointing a Partnering Champion
The appointment of a partnering champion will bring commitment, leadership and influence to the partnering process by providing a focus for the partnering activity. The champion will mentor, involve, communicate and set standards for the partnering as a process; and will be there to help and guide people during difficult periods.
Client organisations who appoint a partnering champion will gain great advantages in moving forward with both internal change and in forging new relationships with contractors. Many demonstration projects have achieved high levels of success because of the commitment of a strong, determined and influential partnering champion.
Champions need to be active and visible leaders who will encourage and reinforce teamwork. They could be appointed from the contractor's team or another organisation within the supply chain, but still carry out the task of motivating the whole team.
Barriers to change can be overcome by:
- Encouraging the partnering champion to work across both the vertical and hierarchical structures within organisations.
- Ensuring that other team members are 'groomed' as potential partnering champions, so that if the champion should leave the team, it does not them fall apart.
Examples:
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Housing Department
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Housing Department appointed 'Champions' as part of their strategy.
Users can access further help using this link to a list of additional websites, literature and toolkits. This list is also available as you use the toolkit from each of the main section pages.
