The right learning partners can unlock your organization\u2019s potential. But the truth is, starting a new relationship with a vendor can be overwhelming\u2014there\u2019s a lot at stake when you bring in a new learning partner.<\/p>\n
When done right, a new learning partnership can result in real impact and a lasting relationship. When a partnership goes wrong, it can lead to wasted time and money, and it may damage trust between you and your team, learners, and stakeholders. With stakes that high, what criteria should you consider to ensure you have the right partner in learning?<\/p>\n
We\u2019re going beyond the typical checklist of vendor capabilities and delving into the nitty gritty of what makes the most successful learning partnerships tick. Here\u2019s what to consider to find your next great learning partner.<\/p>\n
Start with the most critical piece of the learning-partner puzzle: value.<\/p>\n
According to a recent Brandon Hall Group study<\/a>, the biggest challenge companies face in ensuring effective learning programs is that the \u201corganization does not have the people, time, and financial resources to support future skills development needs.\u201d Seeking outside help is critical to solving this problem, but finding the right learning partner\u2014one who has the strategy and execution chops to help you reach your goals\u2014is easier said than done.<\/p>\n You want a learning partner that delivers value by creating real, measurable behavior change. If they can\u2019t point to a tangible difference that their learning interventions create, then you probably shouldn\u2019t hire them. You also want a partner that has the right expertise in the areas that are most important to your goals. Take the time to vet a potential partner\u2019s ability to execute by reviewing work samples. Are they creating experiences as beautiful and high quality as they are effective?<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a quick list of what these strategic and development capabilities look like in practice:<\/p>\n Remember, this piece is foundational for finding the right learning partner. Don\u2019t breeze past this\u2014it might be the most obvious criteria, but it\u2019s also the most important.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve vetted a potential partner in learning for their ability to do the work, it\u2019s equally important to evaluate how that work will get done\u2014do they have the ability to execute a quality learning strategy? Operational excellence is defined differently across organizations and their standards might be lower than your own. Do your due diligence to find a partner who works with the same commitment to quality and communication as you do. It\u2019s a factor that\u2019s often overlooked, but you\u2019ll feel the pain of operational misalignment once your project is underway.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s review a few key traits of a learning company with operational excellence.<\/p>\n You want a reliable partner who delivers what they say they will when they say they will\u2014while staying on time and on budget. Great learning partners are professional, organized, and proactive communicators. Ideally, your new learning partner will also have a big-picture mindset that fosters flexibility and responsiveness. If it\u2019s what best serves the project\u2019s goals, they find a way to make it work.<\/p>\n This is key: nobody wants surprises after agreeing to a project budget. Great learning partners know how to scope accurately and stick to what they promised. They don\u2019t make a habit of issuing change orders for small requests\u2014they\u2019re flexible and fair.<\/p>\n Great learning partners help expand the bandwidth of your team and become a true extension of it by bringing new expertise and capabilities to the table. We\u2019ve all heard nightmare stories of bringing on a vendor that ends up creating more work for you and your team. Great learning companies focus on creating an excellent customer experience, from onboarding to post-launch reporting.<\/p>\n Look for learning partners that have a solid, well-oiled, and proven process in place. Their process should include some version of these critical steps:<\/p>\n Innovation is a word that gets tossed around a lot\u2014what does it really mean to be innovative? And why does it matter in learning? Without innovation, learning companies can fall into the trap of churning out the same, repackaged solutions time and again and never trying anything new. That can leave you with a cookie-cutter solution that doesn\u2019t solve your unique and specific problem. You don\u2019t want order-takers, you want a trusted partner that listens to you. But innovation without intention can lead to different problems\u2014like chasing trends and opting for flashy tools that don\u2019t match the job.<\/p>\n Instead, you want a partner that strikes the right balance. A great learner partner is creative, but with a purpose<\/a>. Innovation should be baked into their strategy\u2014do they systematically explore and evaluate new trends? Can they sift through the smoke and mirrors to identify the best solution? Are they constantly building their skills to expand their capabilities?<\/p>\n With an intentionally innovative partner, you can avoid the cookie-cutter trap and know you\u2019re always getting a solution that\u2019s been customized to solve your problem.<\/p>\n In this guide, 16 Key Questions to Ask Potential Learning Partners, we\u2019re sharing the most important areas to discuss with a potential partner to help you decide if they\u2019re the right fit. We\u2019re delving deeper than the typical checklist and sharing ideas and questions you likely haven\u2019t considered before so you can find a partner that really gets it (and you).<\/p>\n\n16 Key Questions to Ask a Potential Learning Partner\u2192<\/i><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A great learner partner is value-aligned with you and your organization\u2019s needs. A misalignment in values can create friction throughout the project and more than likely, you\u2019ll be stuck with a final product that doesn\u2019t meet expectations. Here are a few key values that great learning partners hold.<\/p>\n Your learning partner should be laser-focused on creating a solution that drives impact. This means they\u2019re collaborative problem-solvers, they\u2019re empathetic, and they\u2019re just as invested in solving the learning problem as you are.<\/p>\n What if checking in with your learning partner was the best meeting of your day? With great learning partners, you actually like the people you\u2019re working with\u2014if it\u2019s a slog to get through the work with them, it isn\u2019t the right fit. Great learning partners are made up of teams of creative, thoughtful, and learning-obsessed people that are just fun to be around.<\/p>\n Options, options, options. If your learning partner has a one-track mind on which solution is best for your learners, run. A great learning partner will bring multiple strategic options to the table and work with you to rank them depending on how you\u2019re prioritizing the cost, quality, and time involved in the project.<\/p>\n\n
Operational excellence<\/h2>\n
Reliable and professional<\/h3>\n
On budget<\/h3>\n
An excellent customer experience<\/h3>\n
A proven process in place<\/h3>\n
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Intentionally innovative<\/h2>\n
Are you evaluating potential learning partners?<\/h5>\n
Values alignment<\/h2>\n
Impact<\/h3>\n
People come first<\/h3>\n
Flexible<\/h3>\n
High-quality design<\/h3>\n