When an organization announces a request for proposals for an open-application grant program, hopeful candidates comb the details and requirements seeking to align their needs with the program's criteria. They want their proposals to stand out among the competition, and they want to prove their relevance and awareness of current trends and exemplars.

Applicants often scour the web or draw on their network connections to identify the most renowned experts in the field with whom they will consult if the grant comes through.

Certainly, it looks good to be able to fly in an international celebrity speaker for a packed day of lectures, consultations and interviews. Look at the experts you know and at the resources you have access to!

We see this often in our work with multiple grant programs at Leadership Education. It makes sense. Resources seem scarce. Competition is fierce. Some organizations employ professional grant writers in hopes of increasing their chances of receiving funds.

Logic says the more important the people you can bring into conversations and collaborations, the more likely your project idea is to succeed, thus raising the chances of your proposal's being funded. That logic model is 100% true -- but not in the way that most people think.

Important conversation partners and collaborators are crucial to a successful project. The problem lies in the perception of "important."