I’ve been a frequent flyer this summer, spending more time in airports and on highways than usual enroute to events and client meetings in Vancouver, Montreal, Windsor, and Thunder Bay. My time with inspiring ecosystem builders across Canada has me reflecting on why it is that some ecosystems thrive while others either fail to launch or take off and then falter. I think it comes down to two things: altitude and attitude.

Altitude informs how far you can go and how much you can see at once. It’s also about fuel efficiency. Thinner air at higher altitudes means less drag on the aircraft – pilots can fly further and conserve fuel. Attitude is about how the plane is positioned, or its orientation relative to the horizon.

This is how we approach our ecosystem strategy work at NorthGuide. To create or validate strategy, we need to start from the right altitude and also test and affirm a group’s attitude – their shared commitment to the cause.

Begin with an altitude check

There is a saying that "your attitude defines your altitude." The premise is that your mindset and outlook greatly influence your success and achievements. With innovation ecosystems, the opposite is true. We gain perspective and neutrality when we rise above our own role or organizational affiliation. If a group of leaders is focused entirely on their own organizational missions and mandates, it’s challenging for them to elevate to find an overall set of objectives which benefits the whole ecosystem. Think of a bird’s eye view, or the view of earth from outer space. We must elevate our thinking and relinquish our innate territorialism to see things clearly and achieve shared aspirations.

In the case of innovation, altitude influences attitude. By rising above individual interests and focusing on the group’s desired future state, a strategy roadmap begins to take shape. The altitude check helps the coalition:

• Define what shared success looks like;
• Set (or update) collective priorities;
• Build a common understanding of what the coalition is and who it serves; and
• agree on some near- and longer-term objectives to advance shared priorities.

The ultimate question at the heart of it all: What would it take to get us from where we are now to our desired state?

Test your attitude(s)

There are many ways in which we see attitude as a determinant of ecosystem success. Attitude manifests in the commitment each player makes to the group as well as the culture that is built and fostered through transparency and trust.

We see attitude show up in small ways. It’s a red flag when we see squabbling over whose logo goes first on a website or press release, or perceived lack of shared credit and acknowledgment in a presentation or meeting. The small things can become the big things over time. Removing irritants to group cohesion is essential. Being aligned on strategy is great, but alignment runs deep and must continue through the ecosystem’s life cycle.

An attitude is a way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, and it is reflected in our behaviour. One way to maintain the right attitude is to put ourselves in the shoes of our customers. Most of the time, customers are interested in results,  not in who gets credit for which activities. Coalition members should continually ask themselves:

• Are we focused on the customer and what they need from us?
• Are we aligned on our messaging and storytelling?
• Are we generous with shared credit?
• Are we flexible and responsive to one another?
• Do we support one another through challenges?
• Are we avoiding duplication of effort?
• Are we ensuring there are no public quarrels or contradictions?

Finding the right altitude from which to look at your shared vision leads to elevated thinking and higher aspirations. By asking and honestly answering these questions, coalitions avoid a competitive attitude, which leads to fractured coalitions, and mediocre results.

Building a healthy coalition: The Synapse life science ecosystem

Let’s look at altitude and attitude within the context of a highly successful coalition called Synapse Life Science Consortium, a diverse group of players spanning public-private boundaries all focused on generating success for Hamilton, Ontario’s life sciences  ecosystem.

Synapse is the result of a collaborative effort by key anchor institutions in Hamilton’s regional life science cluster.  Launched in 2016, the Consortium initiative brought together public sector and private organizations who saw significant opportunity for greater collaboration and coordination across the cluster.

Synapse’s ongoing success has come from continued diligence across the cluster’s nearly 10 year life cycle. The Consortium focuses continually on elevating the entire ecosystem, rather than constituent elements. They build profile, attract investment, and foster meaningful partnerships by working together.

In 2022, the Synapse Advisory Board engaged NorthGuide to lead a process to assess the current state of the Consortium, evaluate challenges and opportunities, and set some collective priorities to advance their work. The strategy exercise helped the group prioritize a clear set of near-term and longer-term actions that all Consortium members agreed to focus on, allocate resources to, and collaboratively advance for their community.

The Synapse success story reminds us that having the right altitude and the right attitude will help your ecosystem go the distance.