4 Steps to Keeping the Love Alive

Contentment (or perhaps complacency) sets in, you start to take the marcom folks for granted (and vice versa) and, gradually, you fall into your old ways. Your tone changes, you don't reach out as much and most of the collaboration you had gotten into gear slows to a halt.

Keep it alive by making the effort to do new things and enjoy new adventures. Refresh this crucial partnership by taking brainstorming meetings off site for a change (this can make an unbelievable difference); bringing a program colleague into the discussion; or collaborating on a working session where together you build your colleagues' understanding of current and prospective donors, train them in dialoguing to strengthen relationships, and ask them to share the insights they gain.