Let’s take a moment to celebrate something close to our hearts—our External Partners. Their role is crucial not only to our business model but also to delivering exceptional solutions that meet and exceed our customers’ expectations.
This is the first introductory post in a series dedicated to and focused on our EPs
The Magic of Flexibility and Belonging
In today’s rapidly evolving world, flexibility is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. According to a 2023 Deloitte report, 72% of organizations with flexible work models see higher employee satisfaction and retention.
Similarly, the Gartner 2020 Workforce Report shows that companies offering flexible work arrangements experience a 19% increase in revenue growth. Flexibility is reflected in our reliance on a robust freelance workforce that allows us to adapt to market demands.
However, flexibility alone doesn’t drive success—the sense of belonging and ownership makes the real difference. Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace report highlights that organizations with high levels of engagement experience a 22% increase in profitability.
At atrain, we foster this sense of belonging among our external partners. We ensure they feel like they’re not just working for us but are genuinely part of our purpose—helping people and organizations break through their challenges.
We consider our external partners an extension of our teams, contributing their unique perspectives and expertise. Harvard Business Review research reveals that cohesive teams perform 37% better than fragmented ones. This deep collaboration enables us to create innovative solutions and foster a work environment where both internal teams and external partners thrive.
The Financial Impact of Integration
Integration is key to achieving the synergy that drives business success. Studies by MIT Sloan show that teams that effectively integrate external partners are 30% more likely to meet their performance goals. This integration fosters not just collaboration, but innovation and results that surpass expectations.
To highlight the financial impact, according to McKinsey’s Diversity Matters study, organizations with diverse and integrated teams report 35% higher innovation revenues.
This is a testament to the value of combining different perspectives—something we deeply value in our work with external partners.
Case in Point: The Power of our External Partnerships
A perfect example is when we faced the challenge of aligning our internal teams with a client’s unique culture and operational style. Instead of forcing a traditional internal approach, we engaged one of our external partners who had already been involved with the account. They stepped in to manage the entire process, ensuring the client’s culture was respected while delivering on objectives.
The results speak for themselves. Under our external partner’s leadership, the client account grew fourfold, expanding our range of solutions and extending our services to other continents. This example highlights the value of external partners and underscores the synergy possible when you integrate external expertise into your core business model.
Scalability and Resilience
Another advantage our external partners provide is the ability to scale efficiently.
As organizations increasingly shift to a hybrid workforce, external partners offer scalability without the traditional overhead. Upwork’s Future Workforce Report predicts that 73% of companies will increase their reliance on freelancers in the coming years, leveraging them as a strategic tool to build resilience in an unpredictable market.
Synergy: The Key to Innovation
Synergy, for us, isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a proven driver of success. Boston Consulting Group reports that companies with diverse management teams experience a 19% increase in innovation revenue. By blending the strengths of both internal teams and external partners, we’ve created an environment that continuously pushes boundaries and drives groundbreaking solutions.
From Our Heart to Yours
At the end of the day, we want our external partners to know how deeply we value their contributions. Every customer interaction, project, and achievement is a collective effort. We genuinely appreciate every one of our external partners and their unique contributions.
Here’s to many more projects, breakthroughs, and shared successes. Together, we are ready to face any future challenges and continue to grow stronger. The future is bright, and we are excited about what we will achieve together.
Global research shows that flexible working is now a deal breaker in the war for talent – IWG plc
Breakthrough Leadership App – atrain GmbH
Accelerating Digital Innovation Inside and Out
Why diversity matters even more | McKinsey
Gallup – Workplace Consulting & Global Research
Future Workforce Report 2022 | Upwork
How Diverse Leadership Teams Boost Innovation
About the author
About the author
Related Posts
We want to take a moment to talk about something close to our hearts: our partnership with our External Partners.
In this article, I will try to combine the theory of balancing autonomy and boundaries with the experience of this challenge in our…
The pressure that teams face doesn’t originate from a singular source but converges from multiple fronts simultaneously…
Are you currently confronted with challenges that you are struggling to overcome? Is life changing in a way that you do not desire? Are you avoiding a difficult decision that deep inside you know you need to make?
Illustrations by rawpixel.com on Freepik