Communicate at the beginning to avoid problems at the end

New relationships, no matter whether personal or professional, get off to the best start when the people involved communicate their expectations and listen to the expectations of others. I've seen new business relationships both thrive and wither because the players involved either communicated well or poorly.

Working with an outside vendor is no different. To launch a succesful vendor relationship:

• Define clear lines of responsibility to stop turf wars before they start. After clearly defining the role of the vendor be sure to share this information to your staff
• Clearly state expectations to put everyone on the same page
• Choose a central point of contact for both the vendor and your company
• Clearly state priorities when flushing out functional requirements
• Communicate constantly
  

Tom's Takeaway: Communiation is the key to successful relationships. Communicate early and often and you'll be rewarded with effective vendor partnerships.