Allegiances and coalitions can provide incredibly powerful leverage in negotiations. They are usually comprised of members with complimentary interests and, through their numbers, can collar the attentions of public officials and members of the media even when other efforts have failed to produce results. As helpful as they can be in negotiation, you'll want to be wary, however, of certain inherent aspects of coalition building and their maintenance that can become challenging under certain circumstances, and find ways of hedging against such occurrences. This article examines the dynamics of coalition building and offers tips on ways to start strong, stay strong and position yourself in a manner which preserves your influence within an alliance.