---
title: Get out of the building
description: Step outside your comfort zone to redefine problem-solving fostering transparency, collaboration, and innovation for strategic partnerships.
image: https://peruconsulting.co.uk/hubfs/derek-thomson-833EbToi4yA-unsplash.jpg
---
[Skip to main menu](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/get-out-of-the-building#main-menu) [Skip to footer](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/get-out-of-the-building#footer)
[Peru Consulting logo](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/) Peru Consulting homepage
- Better Solutions
- Better Solutions
- [Overview](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions)
- [IT 360](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions/it-360)
- [Performance Accelerators](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions/performance-accelerators)
- [Better Partnerships](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions/better-partnerships)
-  [View promoted page](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions)
- Better People
- Better People
- [Meet our Consultants](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/consultants/meet-our-consultants)
- [Become a Better Consultant](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/consultants/become-a-better-consultant)
-  [View promoted page](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions)
- Our Services
- Services
- [Overview](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services)
- [Architecture](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services/business-architecture)
- [Data Management](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services/data-management)
- [Change Delivery](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services/change-delivery)
- [Supplier Management](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services/supplier-management)
- [Sourcing](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services/sourcing)
-  [View promoted page](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions)
- Our Work
- Our Work
- [Overview](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/industries)
- [Financial Services](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/financial-services-case-studies)
- [Healthcare & Life Sciences](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/healthcare-life-sciences-case-studies)
- [Industrial & Manufacturing](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/industrial-manufacturing-case-studies)
- [Legal Services](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/legal-services-case-studies)
- [Retail & Wholesale](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/retail-wholesale-case-studies)
- [View all Case Studies](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/case-studies)
-  [View promoted page](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions)
- About
- About
- [Culture & History](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/culture-and-history)
- [Community](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/community)
- [Partners & Associates](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/partners-and-associates)
-  [View promoted page](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions)
- [Resources](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources)
[Get in touch](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/contact)
- Better Solutions
- Better Solutions
- [Overview](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions)
- [IT 360](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions/it-360)
- [Performance Accelerators](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions/performance-accelerators)
- [Better Partnerships](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions/better-partnerships)
- Better People
- Better People
- [Meet our Consultants](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/consultants/meet-our-consultants)
- [Become a Better Consultant](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/consultants/become-a-better-consultant)
- Our Services
- Services
- [Overview](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services)
- [Architecture](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services/business-architecture)
- [Data Management](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services/data-management)
- [Change Delivery](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services/change-delivery)
- [Supplier Management](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services/supplier-management)
- [Sourcing](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services/sourcing)
- Our Work
- Our Work
- [Overview](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/industries)
- [Financial Services](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/financial-services-case-studies)
- [Healthcare & Life Sciences](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/healthcare-life-sciences-case-studies)
- [Industrial & Manufacturing](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/industrial-manufacturing-case-studies)
- [Legal Services](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/legal-services-case-studies)
- [Retail & Wholesale](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/retail-wholesale-case-studies)
- [View all Case Studies](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/case-studies)
- About
- About
- [Culture & History](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/culture-and-history)
- [Community](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/community)
- [Partners & Associates](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/partners-and-associates)
- [Resources](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources)
- [Get in touch](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/contact)
# Get out of the building
Share
[mailto:?body=Check%20out%20this%20post%3A%20https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/get-out-of-the-building](mailto:?body=Check%20out%20this%20post%3A%20https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/get-out-of-the-building)
 Brian Farrelly
Brian Farrelly 30 Apr 2025 Time to read:
We can get somewhat absorbed by the issues within the four walls of our own organisation. It's a comfortable zone, and remote work often amplifies this.
When we step outside, it may just be to the office. This means we’re not spending enough time “outside the building” — to borrow a phrase from entrepreneur and author Stephen Blank — to gain the fresh perspective we truly need.
**Perspective**
In a previous blog, I discussed the importance of asking the right questions and creating ambitious problem statements that inspire action. Building on that theme, once you’ve crafted a statement that unites stakeholders and generates excitement, it’s time to step aside and avoid rushing to solve the problem – slow down to go fast. Before you act, ensure you’ve gathered enough new information and explored fresh possibilities. What are others doing? What’s possible? What has worked? What mistakes have others made?
In our experience, the traditional transactional procurement model, which prioritises cost and contractual tightness and hardens requirements before possibilities are fully explored, is inefficient and ineffective. Instead, the co-creation model is designed to collaboratively build solutions, select the right partner, and lay the foundations for a partnership that will operate as a mutually beneficial relationship.
There’s no single approach to this, as research takes many forms. However, we suggest a new approach that can be applied to a variety of situations. We call it a Request for Engagement (RFE), a variation of the RFI and RFP. Your RFE should outline key information, including: your problem statement, targeted outcomes, the current context, key projects in your pipeline, future scenarios or ambitions, your working environment, strategy, objectives, priorities, issues, constraints, and more. With this in hand, you’ll engage a shortlist of potential partners in a collaborative dialogue. These will likely include some incumbent suppliers (who could become partners) and/or new suppliers with proven experience in your sector, and with a partnership mindset.
By “partnership mindset,” I mean suppliers who are willing to invest in the relationship, offer valuable insights and innovation, work collaboratively in a shared context, and take a long-term view. This includes the ability to take commercial risks to achieve desired outcomes. I plan to explore strategic partnerships in more detail in a future post.
**Co-creation**
Next, invite your shortlisted candidates into a co-creation process to explore the “art of the possible.” This new model is designed around shared goals, open dialogue, iterative problem-solving and creating alignment.
The process prioritises cultural fit, adaptability, and commitment to innovation as well as technical capabilities as these are what matter in maximising efficiency and a productive relationship.
In a previous client engagement, we briefed suppliers verbally at the beginning, helping them qualify the opportunity. Transparency and trust-building are key if you want to unlock the best they have to offer. Engaging in open conversations is vital, as prospective partners need to know your mind is open to being challenged. Discourage them from simply telling you what they think you want to hear — this will become evident quickly. Instead, encourage raw perspectives and candid viewpoints, grounded in real-life experiences — the good and the bad. The nature of the process provides for straight-talking and feedback. You are collaboratively building towards optimised solutions as opposed to ‘being sold to’. Equally, the suppliers need time to weigh-up the situation – are we prepared to back ourselves? Is this an environment where a partnership can flourish?
We advocate a series of workshops and design sprints which build and test hypotheses. These are driven by the supplier as this provides valuable insight into an organisation's culture and reveals their true behaviours. The lack of rigid “rules” in this process generates more valuable insights than a traditional approach might. In our experience, the high-touch open engagement leads to well-developed solutions. This process significantly speeds up what comes next as you evaluate the supplier’s suitability, harden the detail, develop contracts and transition to the new world.
**Innovation**
We’ve found that supplier organisations field strong teams for this kind of engagement because it’s unconstrained, collaborative, transparent, and encourages the best ideas and approaches. If you’re an A-player at a supplier organisation, you’ll naturally be drawn to such opportunities because they allow you to express your ideas fully.
Sales is a two-way street. It’s in your best interest to “sell” your opportunity to the market especially when you’ve an open mind and open door. Suppliers are always qualifying opportunities and looking to invest wisely, so make it easier for them.
It all begins with stepping outside your comfort zone and getting out of the building.
*Published by Brian Farrelly, General Manager - Ireland *
- Topics:
- [Professional Services](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/professional-services)
- [Better Partnerships](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/better-partnerships)
- [Supplier Management](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/supplier-management)
- [Sourcing](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/sourcing)
- [Digital Business](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/tag/digital-business)
## Related resources
[See all resources](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources)
[View Beyond boundaries: Multi-disciplinary teams driving AI-powered procurement page](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/beyond-boundaries-multi-disciplinary-teams-driving-ai-powered-procurement)
Beyond boundaries: Multi-disciplinary teams driving AI-powered procurement
Procurement alongside AI Procurement in the financial services sector isn’t just about securing savings or supplier performance anymore. In...
[Peru Consulting logo](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/) Peru Consulting homepage
Shaping industries through the power of better consulting.
- Better Solutions
- [IT 360](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions/it-360)
- [Performance Accelerators](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions/performance-accelerators)
- [Better Partnerships](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/it-business-solutions/better-partnerships)
- Better People
- [Become a Better Consultant](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/consultants/become-a-better-consultant)
- [Meet Our Consultants](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/consultants/meet-our-consultants)
- [Our Services](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/services)
- About Us
- [Culture & History](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/culture-and-history)
- [Community](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/community)
- [Contact Us](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/contact)
- Visit us on LinkedIn
- Visit us on Instagram
© Peru Consulting 2026
Registered address: Peru Consulting Ltd, SPACES Peter House, Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 5AN
- [Cookies](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/cookie-policy)
- [Privacy Policy](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/privacy-policy)
- [T&C’s](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/terms-and-conditions)
- [Slavery](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/slavery)
- [Diversity](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/diversity)
- [Carbon](https://peruconsulting.co.uk/carbon)
Close
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Brian Farrelly",
"url" : "https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/author/brian-farrelly"
},
"dateModified" : "2025-04-30T10:46:49.307Z",
"datePublished" : "2025-04-30T10:46:49.000Z",
"headline" : "Get out of the building",
"image" : [ "https://peruconsulting.co.uk/hubfs/derek-thomson-833EbToi4yA-unsplash.jpg" ],
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/get-out-of-the-building",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject",
"url" : "https://peruconsulting.co.uk/hubfs/website/vectors/peru-consulting-logo.svg"
},
"name" : "Peru Consulting Ltd"
}
}
```
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "Article",
"author" : [ {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Brian Farrelly",
"url" : "https://peruconsulting.co.uk/resources/author/brian-farrelly"
} ],
"dateModified" : "2025-04-30T10:46:49+0000",
"datePublished" : "2025-04-30T10:46:49+0000",
"headline" : "Get out of the building",
"image" : [ "https://139544704.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/139544704/derek-thomson-833EbToi4yA-unsplash.jpg" ]
}
```