Getting Updation

The other day my daughter asked if I would pleeeeease log her iPod onto our wireless network so she could have updation.  Updation?  What on earth is that supposed to mean? 

So I asked her, "Sure, I think so Sweetie... but tell me, what is updation?"

"Oh Daddy, that's for the apps on there... so they can get updation... the new stuff."

"You mean you want me to download updates for your apps?"

"Yes!  Updation."

I smiled...  "Gotcha.  And I think you created a new word there.  Updation it is."

And, what on earth does this have to do with professional partnerships and the idea of fusing focus?  I'm glad you asked, because it goes straight to the core of what I talk about in this space.  The idea of fusing focus is to determine your own interests and also to figure out what is important to your partner (or partners) and then blend those goals and ideals into a unified game plan going forward.

Great, but what does that have to do with "updation"?  Again, glad you asked.  The game plan that you craft with your partners is never a static document or some kind of event, is it?  The plan has got to live and breathe and have a life of it's own.  You have to communicate changes and keep each side informed about new conditions.

You know, updation.

It is the critical piece to fuse the focus of the two (or more!) organizations.  The game plan never stays the same, but you should never change for change's sake either.  Keep the lines of communication open and make sure you have regular checkup calls where the concept of changing conditions is specifically mentioned.

Something to keep in mind, though...  It can be hard to identify changing conditions over short periods of time, so it is good to name the most important factors affecting the partnership and work to quantify aspects of each.  That way you can take a wide-angle view of those factors on a periodic basis to get a good handle on what is really changing.  When you know what is really changing you can talk about what to do about it.

And when you update each other on the ever-changing conditions, quantifying their effects, and altering course in your partnership, do you know what you are doing?  Yep - getting updation.