The Standard Excuses
- Concern over theological differences — real or imagined.
- Fear of loss of organizational identity.
- The “we can do it alone” mentality.
- Pride/ego.
- Fear of other agencies intrusion on our turf.
- Fear of change — never done it this way before.
- The “not invented here” syndrome.
- Fear our funding may be threatened — have to protect our income.
- Partnership is a waste of time — we see no potential added value.
- Don’t have the staff or time to spend on trying to work with others.
- Institutional inertia, lack of flexibility, living in the past.
- Fear of success — how would we share credit with others?
- How to explain our involvement to our Board or constituency.
- Fear of exposure of our organization’s weaknesses or idiosyncrasies.
- Our work is so unique cooperation would have little/no value.