---
id: "action-forge-external-partnerships"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["¶2"]
tags: ["networking", "strategic-partnerships"]
related: ["framework-abcs-leadership", "claim-speed-scale-external"]
speakers: ["Linda A. Hill"]
role: "Bridger"
action: "Identify and forge critical partnerships beyond organizational boundaries to leverage external capabilities."
outcome: "Achieving the speed and scale of innovation that internal silos cannot support."
sources: ["tail2"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-tail2"
originDay: 2
articleStem: "hbr-tail-125-innovative-leader"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2025/05/what-makes-an-innovative-leader"
sourceTitle: "What Makes an Innovative Leader?"
---
# Forge Boundary-Spanning Partnerships

> **Role:** Bridger (the **B** of [[framework-abcs-leadership|the ABCs]])
> **Action:** Identify and forge critical partnerships beyond organizational boundaries to leverage external capabilities.
> **Outcome:** Achieving the speed and scale of innovation that internal silos cannot support.

Recognizing that internal resources are insufficient for the speed and scale demanded by modern markets ([[claim-speed-scale-external]]), leaders must actively seek out and formalize relationships with external entities. This requires developing the skills to negotiate, collaborate, and share value with partners outside the immediate organization.

**Downside to manage (enrichment):** external partnership dependence introduces IP risk, misalignment, and transaction/coordination costs — see [[counter-partnership-coordination-costs]]. This action feeds directly into the Catalyst move, [[action-align-ecosystem-stakeholders]].