Thread by @tasshinfogleman

as you may know, i'm big on alliances. here's a smattering what i've learned from a variety of theoretical reading + my own application and practice.

https://twitter.com/tasshinfogleman/status/1120507406818193408

make use of empire theory + burja maps. As @SamoBurja says in Great Founder Theory: “The best way to win at adversarial encounters... is to focus energy on building out cooperative ones. In the long run, acquiring power and empowering others is mutually reinforcing...”

if you are wanting to collaborate with another organization, know that you are "out". their leader/s is/are "high." there is usually a live mid player to ally with. they have a mix of borrowed + owned power, + are looking for new opportunites + inputs.

high tends to move slow, as a bottleneck - like the king in chess, they move slow but are the "point" of the game. the mid player can move fast, like the "queen."

fast information flow is important. use back channels as needed. be familiar with the westrum typology:
medium.com/@tasshin/apply…

know who your allies are, and make sure they know you are allies. be explicit and even formal. having bidirectional situational awareness is critical: know what they're working on currently (current projects and responsibilities) and why (goals + vision).

this situational awareness is the conditions for good consequences. look for opportunities to help them and ideally your broader network, e.g. look for opportunities to introduce your allies to each other in ways that are mutually beneficial (double opt-in, of course).

relatedly, steer towards projects and directions that benefit more of your allies. this may not be obvious to other involved players but you need to take a long vision here.

then again, what your allies are working on isn't so important. who they are, and your relationship with them is more important.

first of all, what each of you is working on is highly subject to change.

and also, at various points of challenge and difficulty, you might wish your ally was working on what you are working on, or vice versa. but ultimately, it's OK that these are different projects.

you know that they have their topic/project area covered, and you have yours. (e.g. ideally i've got the "meditation" and "monastery" thing covered for my allies)

learn from your allies. ask about their work, about open questions you have or challenges you're facing. ask about their best practices. share what you have to offer in terms of skill, knowledge, and resources.

IME, a really good alliance often feels like each side is getting the better deal. you almost have to check in periodically, "wait, are you sure this is really good for you, too?" knowing why they're doing what they're doing is key to making this not feeling guilty.

ultimately: love your allies. they are whole people, with strengths and weaknesses, big goals and banal problems. (hint: you are too). be there for them when they need you, even if it's hard or uncomfortable or socially risky. love your allies! this is just good person-ing.

- with love to my allies, present and future - you know who you are! Tasshin