How can you build strong relationships with external partners through a professional learning community?

3 Align goals and expectations

The third step to building strong relationships with external partners is to align your goals and expectations with theirs. You should have a shared vision and understanding of what you want to achieve and how you will measure success. You should also agree on the roles and responsibilities of each partner, and the norms and protocols of collaboration. For example, you might create a memorandum of understanding, a contract, or a partnership agreement that outlines the scope, duration, frequency, and format of your partnership. You should also review and revise your goals and expectations regularly, and address any challenges or conflicts that arise.

4 Foster trust and mutual respect

The fourth step to building strong relationships with external partners is to foster trust and mutual respect. You should treat your partners as equals and valued members of your PLC, and respect their opinions, perspectives, and experiences. You should also be honest, transparent, and accountable for your actions and decisions, and expect the same from your partners. You should also celebrate your achievements and successes together, and provide constructive feedback and support to each other. You should also seek to learn from your partners, and appreciate their diversity and uniqueness.

5 Sustain and expand the partnership

The fifth step to building strong relationships with external partners is to sustain and expand the partnership. You should maintain regular and consistent communication and interaction with your partners, and seek feedback and input on how to improve the partnership. You should also recognize and reward your partners for their efforts and impacts, and share your stories and best practices with others. You should also look for opportunities to grow and deepen the partnership, such as involving more partners, exploring new topics, or initiating new projects. You should also evaluate and reflect on the partnership, and identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges.

6 Share and disseminate the learning

The sixth and final step to building strong relationships with external partners is to share and disseminate the learning that emerges from the partnership. You should document and showcase the results and outcomes of your partnership, such as student achievement, teacher development, or community engagement. You should also share the lessons learned and the challenges overcome, and the implications and recommendations for future practice. You should also seek to influence and inspire others to adopt or adapt your partnership model, and to join or form their own PLCs with external partners.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?