How to Strengthen Cultural Competence Through Collaboration
And, what to look out for so you collaborate with the right partners!
Last year, I was on a "coffee chat" with a woman who had discovered me online and thought we should discuss a future collaboration opportunity. As many of these "opportunities" in the past have turned into MLM pitches, I'm always cautious when a new person reaches out to me online.
As we began talking, she started sharing her story, and I instantly thought she reminded me of someone I knew. A thought emerged by the end of that conversation: It would be even better if we all had a conversation. Then, an even better idea hit me: it would be wonderful to host this conversation live so other women in our communities could join. That’s how I ended up hosting and moderating my first live panel discussion with three amazing women about self-care for Black women.
This week, I want to build on last week's discussion about advocacy and cultural competence to focus on collaboration. I’ve learned that partnering with the right individuals and organizations is critical to advancing health equity and fostering cultural competence—but it’s not without its challenges. Let’s explore how to navigate this terrain effectively.
Why Collaboration Matters
Collaboration isn’t just about sharing resources; it’s about combining strengths to achieve a common goal. For healthcare providers, partnering with community organizations can:
Enhance your understanding of cultural nuances and social determinants of health.
Build trust between you and marginalized communities.
Expand the reach and impact of the health equity initiatives you’re promoting.
However, not all partnerships are created equal. A poorly chosen collaboration can undermine your reputation and alienate your audience. Here are three tips to ensure your partnerships promote cultural competence and drive meaningful change.
1. Vet Everyone You Plan to Collaborate With
Years ago, as a new health coach, I agreed to collaborate with someone without proper vetting. She proposed a live discussion on a specific topic, but once we went live, she used the platform to sell her products. My audience quickly realized it was a sales pitch, and I was mortified. That experience taught me a valuable lesson: every collaboration impacts your reputation, for better or worse.
That’s why it’s critical to vet who you’re looking to collaborate with thoroughly. Not everyone is culturally competent and understands what’s appropriate when partnering with people who are culturally different than you. Had we both done more due diligence, it would have been clear that our beliefs and values were not aligned. So, I encourage you to avoid the missteps that we made.
Action Steps:
Research their background: Take the time to view potential collaborators' social media posts, websites, and prior collaborations. Also, a good old Google search can tell you if anything is being said about them in the news that you don’t want to be connected to.
Assess alignment: Before agreeing to collaborate, ensure their values, messaging, and goals align with yours. Just because someone has a big audience doesn’t mean their audience is the right one for you.
Check their audience engagement. You can tell if there is a genuine connection by how a collaborative partner engages with their audience. Ensure that you’re partnering with individuals and organizations who will enhance your credibility and introduce you to a new audience.
2. Establish Clear Expectations With a Written Agreement
A few years ago, I collaborated regularly with a complementary business. Since we were "friends," we didn’t formalize our partnership with a written agreement. This led to miscommunication and unmet expectations. While we eventually resolved the issue, it highlighted the importance of clear terms.
Hence, you must set clear expectations, as not everyone has the most appropriate attitude when working with people from other cultures. It should go without saying that sometimes individuals hold certain biases and assumptions about people from different cultures. A written agreement can assist when specific “power structures” are in place, creating unnecessary tension.
Action Steps:
Outline the roles and responsibilities: To keep this simple, be specific about who will do what. When it comes to collaborations and partnerships, don't make assumptions.
Set timelines and deliverables: Whether this collaboration is happening virtually or in person, there will be a set of deliverables. Having a specific timeline for when those deliverables are due helps avoid last-minute surprises.
Address monetary considerations: I’m not a lawyer, nor do I pretend to play one on the internet. However, I’ve learned over years of collaboration that you should consider a formal contract to eliminate ambiguity when money is involved.
3. Execute Well to Open Future Doors
Successful collaborations can lead to new opportunities. For example, one panelist was so inspired after our self-care panel that she decided to moderate her discussion. She was so pleased with the success of our panel discussion that she wanted to expand the conversation to include other topics that would interest her community.
When a partnership is executed well, it can have incredible ripple effects. This collaboration with three culturally competent women illustrated how you can bring together people with unique perspectives to the partnership. That’s what makes executing well critical as a well-executed collaboration becomes a referral opportunity for more.
Action Steps:
Plan meticulously: Even if you’re not very detail-oriented, it’s crucial to think through various scenarios that could arise. Doing this ensures that every detail—from promotion to execution—is thoughtfully addressed.
Engage actively: Whether hosting or participating in the collaboration, you must actively engage in the execution. Most people skip this step, which is why, by doing this, your audience and collaborators will appreciate your effort and professionalism.
Follow-up: Sending a thank-you note can go a long way if you want to be seen as a great host or participant. Also, make the time to assess the collaboration's outcomes. Note what worked well and what didn’t so you can succeed more with your next partnership.
Collaborations can be transformative, not just for your work but for the communities you serve. By vetting potential partners, setting clear expectations, and executing with excellence, you can:
Strengthen cultural competence.
Build trust with your audience.
Create opportunities for future partnerships.
Not every collaboration is the right fit, but the right ones can amplify your impact and help reduce health disparities.
Are you ready to foster cultural competence and enhance the quality of care for Black women?
Together, we can build a more equitable future in healthcare.
x Tomesha