Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen? Navigating Diverging Objectives in Trade Associations and Coalitions.

Working with trade associations and coalitions can be an invaluable strategy for advancing your business interests. However, the reality is that in any coalition, the objectives of the members will not always align perfectly. When the inevitable divergence of interests arises, it’s crucial to manage the situation carefully. The last thing you want to do is threaten to “take your ball and go home.” That approach often leads to isolation, not influence.

Instead, the key is to protect your interests while maintaining the strength of the coalition.

I’ve seen this scenario firsthand. I was once working with an association where the industry players had deep distrust of each other. This schism was threatening to derail the entire advancement of the industry. Despite the challenges, we managed to coalesce around the most critical issues—the "must haves" and "must not haves." The other issues, although important to individual companies, were left on the cutting room floor. By narrowing the focus to what truly mattered to the collective, we were able to keep the coalition intact and advocate with a unified voice on the most essential matters.

This experience taught me that in coalitions, the path forward is often about finding the least common denominator—the shared concerns that can unite all parties. When the issues are complex, and there are competing interests at play, aligning around only the most critical issues can prevent a fractured approach that weakens collective power. This doesn't mean you should abandon the issues that are important to your business. It’s about being strategic and knowing when to advocate alone or with a smaller subset of allies for positions that are not widely shared by the group.

If you find that a particular issue isn’t gaining traction within the broader coalition, it may be necessary to separate it from the collective advocacy and pursue it independently. Whether that means speaking with a targeted group of stakeholders, building a case on your own, or finding new allies, the key is ensuring that your critical interests are protected without jeopardizing the broader coalition’s success.

In the world of trade associations and coalitions, it’s all about balancing your unique business needs with the shared objectives of the group. When done right, you can drive forward with a unified voice on the most important issues, while still ensuring that your individual priorities are heard, even if you have to advocate outside the group from time to time.

If you’re navigating complex coalition dynamics and want to make sure your business interests are protected, take my Policy Vulnerability Survey.

This article originally appeared on BryanAMurray.com.