Creating Lasting Impact: Insights from 20 Plus Years of Collaboration

Ruth Peebles, President of The INS Group, and Terry Allebaugh, President of Peace Hill at Avila, share key lessons from their 20 plus years of collaboration on meaningful projects and friendship. Their reflections offer practical insights for organizations about building impactful partnerships and developing strong relationships that lead to long-term success. This conversation provides powerful insights into collaborating to achieve impactful, lasting change.

Key Takeaways: 

1. Successful Partnerships Begin with a Discovery Process

The discovery process should be the starting point of any collaboration. The INS Group’s comprehensive approach to understanding each client’s unique expectations, culture, opportunities, and goals supports a tailored approach to developing custom solutions. In addition to learning about our clients, The INS Group shares our methodologies, working style, and what we require from partnerships to foster transparency and collaboration. Investing time learning about your partners helps create a strong foundation for collaboration, ensuring alignment and a shared vision for success.

2. Building Strong Relationships Is Key to Sustainability

Prioritizing relationship building is key to achieving long-term impact. Strong connections with stakeholders and community members, nurtured over time, are essential for organizations to stay sustainable. Trust, communication, and shared purpose are key elements of partnerships that last. By fostering these relationships, organizations can create a collaborative culture that supports immediate goals and long-term success.

3. Lasting Impact Requires Relevant Stakeholder Engagement

Achieving lasting impact requires engaging and hearing the voices of diverse stakeholders throughout every phase of a project. This adds valuable perspectives and insights to decision-making.  An inclusive approach not only fosters broader buy-in but also ensures that solutions meet the needs and perspectives of those most impacted by the work. Stakeholder engagement goes beyond simply inviting people to participate; it requires active engagement, transparency, and a commitment to inclusivity. By doing so, organizations can build solutions that are more comprehensive, equitable, and ultimately more effective in creating lasting impact.