We are Better Together!

by Dr. Emma Stokes, BSc (Physio), MSc (Res), MScMgMt, PhD

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) is the sole international voice for the global physiotherapy community. As president of WCPT, I am mindful of our main organisational priority and strategic imperative: to be an organisation with global influence that brings positive change to health policy and practice.

I believe that as a physiotherapy community, included within the wider community of health professionals, we are definitely better and stronger together.

The WCPT is a meta-organisation — an international, non-governmental confederation of 120 national professional organisations, including 25 subgroups and networks across the globe. We partner with organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Humanity & Inclusion (HI). We also work with organisations including United Cerebral Palsy and HI on funded projects, and team up with organisations such as the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics on grant applications.

The WCPT, in collaboration with a number of other international organisations, helped found the Global Rehabilitation Alliance (GRA). This global alliance unites many key actors in civil society providing a combined voice for advocacy in rehabilitation at a global level.

So far, so exciting! But do these alliances work? Do they achieve their aims? In my experience, they do but only with some very intentional behaviours.

R. M. Kanter^{Footnote 1}, in her article on Collaborative Advantage: The Art of Alliances, describes three fundamental aspects to successful international collaborative advantage: First, the alliances must be “living systems” that grow and evolve.

They must have the capacity to open doors and create new possibilities. Second, they must be true collaborations (not simply transactional partnerships), and finally, Kanter notes that successful alliances combine a formal structure plus a dense web of personal connections. Can you apply these principles in your alliances? What’s the most prevalent problem?

While serving as President for WCPT, I have learned a number of key factors over the last four years:

1. Spend time developing a common understanding for the purpose of an alliance with your partners.
2. Be clear about the role of the alliance – first ask ‘why’, then ‘how’, then ‘what’ [Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle].
3. Be very mindful of and intentional about interpersonal relationships.
4. There is a need for trade-off, but it should not be a zero-sum game. Reframe those types of conversations and focus on ‘growing the pie’.

It’s a pleasure to serve CIHR via the IMHA Advisory Board. I aim to provide an international perspective and be on the lookout to add value as IMHA works to engage its community, build partnerships (in expertise not just in resources, but resources are good!), set priorities and do that all important (but often overlooked) thing: measure progress.

Date modified:

2019-04-18