Collaborating Effectively in Crisis (Abridged)

A crisis has hit. Now more than ever, people are looking for trusted leadership, a way forward, and for solutions that work.

In this excerpt of our Collaborating Effectively In Crisis resource guide, we will provide quick-start processes for you and your members to work alongside administration to bring forth the needs of educators, students, and their families, and to address them in ways that bring swift outcomes.

Listen to Members’ Needs. How is this situation impacting them? Their students and families? The community at large?

Partner with Administrators. Identify the crisis, communicate your desire to collaborate, and partner to develop and implement solutions.

Create Commitments. Identify areas of focus that all parties agree are a priority. Document these areas and agree to hold to these.

Form Teams & Commitments. Work with administrators to form teams and committees with diverse, ready-to-collaborate stakeholders.

Create Shared Goals Objectives. Define and document shared goals and objectives, and the activities that will achieve those aims.

Establish Support Resources. Identify and secure the resources that are required to help you achieve your goals and objectives.

Create a Communication Plan. It’s important to keep your stakeholders informed. Determine how and when you will communicate the work.

Understand Decision-Making. It’s important to establish decision-making that protects the integrity of the work and the collaborative dynamic.

Monitor Progress & Impact. This helps track implementation and may also shed light on new information about problems or solutions.

Reflect. The Crisis has Ended! Think about the important structures you’ve established as you look toward a brighter future.