As we continue to build the Avionco brand and service model in aircraft management and charter services, we’ve met a variety of different business aviation operators and professionals across the world who are proving instrumental in helping us take regional expertise and turn it into a global network.
In a word, it gets down to Partnership. Here are 4 partnership insights that are helping Avionco take regional successes and grow them into a global reality.
- Viva la difference!Find partners who can bring services, expertise and markets to your customers that you can’t. Embrace their differences and imagine their business model as part of your own. In the world of business aviation only one opinion matters and that is the opinion of your customers. Will they benefit from your new imagined expanded services? If so, will they call upon you more often?
- But not philosophical differences! In contrast to our first point about differences in services and expertise – philosophy is not the same. Make sure partners share similar philosophies about customer service and professional practice.We’ve learned the hard way that you must work with people who see the world of business aviation the same way you do and who understand that things won’t always go as planned. Otherwise, you’re never on the same page in terms of getting things done. For example, last year we had a partner who seemed to have the level of drive and interest we wanted, but in the end, we should have seen that it was a bit of a one-sided interest. As long as things worked for them, great. But when things weren’t going as well as hoped we felt their interest level and engagement in building our mutual interests dropped – which is exactly the opposite of what our partnership needed.
- 1+1 = 4. When you combine points one and two above, you get true synergy. An equation that makes both partners stronger and more capable of reaching beyond their existing reality. Philosophically, it puts you on the same page when it comes to running a business and physically, it gives your customers access to more services, destinations and expertise.
- Transparency. This is a bit of a buzz word these days when it comes to business, but it’s a must in terms of partnerships that work. If you’re not going into the relationship to share access to services, staff and customers then you will surely fail. If you are beginning a relationship and feel there are things being left unspoken, then be the first to speak up! At Avionco, we pride ourselves in putting our cards on the table with honesty and clarity to encourage potential partners to do the same.
Admittedly, these are 4 points that may seem obvious, but in practice we can tell you that for many they are not. Keep them in mind as a way of assessing partnerships for growth.