If there is one thing that all Ed Tech leaders learn very quickly after assuming a leadership role is that all of the sudden vendors find the GPS coordinates of where they are at all hours of the day (address + office number + email + cell number + skype + twitter + facebook, + DNA + blood type, etc.). I’ve been trying to find a start to this post on vendor partners for a while and I just found it! The above collage is made of real snapshots capture while on a district visit. The district CIO gets a pretty sizable package from a reputable computer manufacturer. I won’t say who… but their initials are HP. The CIO new he hadn’t ordered anything from them so he was a bit surprised. To his (AND My) enjoyment it was a shiny new remote control car with his name on it. BUT upon searching for the remote control, he finds the note – explaining to get the remote, he had to set up a meeting. Essentially inviting the vendor in. Let me just say that I LOVE THIS. What a great approach. It’s fun. It’s kind of funny. And what Geek doesn’t love an RC Car. I like the fact that a vendor is going to work hard and be creative to become one of your partners.
Solution Partners > Vendors – Every Ed Tech leader needs to quickly learn how to tell the difference between someone or some company trying to sell you stuff – widgets, etc… versus a strategic plan to provide a solution to a problem you are having. A real solution. A partner is someone who is not just trying to make a buck (although that’s no doubt part of it), but someone who is really invested in the outcome and seeing students having better/improved experiences. Partners aren’t pushy. They understand that if <enter the widget or proposed solution> is implemented to fast without sustainability or proper planning that there is fail on both ends. A true Ed Tech solutions partners cares about students learning and believes in what they are selling, and has real passion. Partners are those that you want to tell everyone else about. They don’t ask you to, but you inevitably you want everyone else to know how great they are to work with and that their stuff works. Partners don’t have to over sell you. They don’t need to pitch you. They simply give you a list of other entities that are using their stuff and tell you to call them. After all, I’d rather hear from another school/district or EdTech leader about the successes they are having, rather than the vendor. Vendors can become partners. It’s an earned progression. I do indeed LOVE working with solutions partners.