Top 3 Reasons PLCs Struggle and How to Address Them
It’s winter break—a rare moment of quiet for schools. The hustle and grind of the first semester has subsided, and with students and staff enjoying time away, school leaders finally have a chance to reflect. This pause is often when you start to notice which initiatives launched with optimism in August have since fallen flat.
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) may be one of those initiatives. At the start of the year, they held the promise of collaboration, improved teaching practices, and better student outcomes. Yet by mid-year, resentment has begun to bubble up—teachers question their value, and if you’re honest, you may feel frustrated, too. Between competing demands and a lack of visible results, it’s easy to see why PLCs don’t always live up to expectations.
The good news is that the mid-year break offers the perfect opportunity to diagnose what’s not working and make a plan for January. Skill gaps, low motivation, and ineffective facilitation are three of the most common barriers holding PLCs back. Let’s dig into these challenges and explore how to address them.
1. Skill Gaps Among PLC Members
PLCs thrive when all members bring key skills to the table: analyzing data, problem-solving collaboratively, and engaging in reflective discussions. Yet not every teacher comes with these abilities. Uneven skill levels can lead to frustration, disengagement, and unproductive meetings.
Recognizing Skill Gaps
Skill gaps aren’t always obvious at first glance. Look for these signs:
A few voices dominate discussions while others stay silent.
Members struggle to analyze student data or seem unsure about what to contribute.
Follow-through on action plans is inconsistent or unclear.
Consider a PLC where teachers are asked to examine assessment results. If only one or two people know how to interpret the data, the rest of the group may feel lost and disengage. Over time, this lack of contribution erodes the team’s effectiveness.
Addressing Skill Gaps
Start with targeted, practical training. Focus on strategies like the Short Data Cycle, which breaks data analysis into manageable steps. Assign roles, such as facilitator or data analyst, to leverage individual strengths while encouraging growth in weaker areas. Ongoing professional development builds both confidence and competence, helping all members contribute meaningfully.
Reflective Question: What specific skills do your PLC members need, and how can you support their growth?
2. Motivation Challenges
Even the most skilled PLC members can lose motivation if they don’t see the value in the process. For many teachers, past experiences with ineffective PLCs, overwhelming workloads, or unclear goals create resistance. Without a clear sense of purpose, PLCs can feel like another box to check rather than an opportunity for growth.
Recognizing Motivation Issues
Motivation challenges might show up as:
Frequent tardiness, absences, or disengagement during meetings.
Routine, low-energy conversations with little innovation or follow-through.
Resistance to trying new ideas or processes.
Think about a PLC focused on creating lesson plans primarily for compliance. Without a connection to classroom impact or student outcomes, teachers may disengage, viewing the process as busywork rather than a meaningful effort.
Reigniting Motivation
To rekindle motivation, start by redefining the PLC’s purpose. Use root cause analysis to identify barriers to success, such as unclear objectives or irrelevant topics. Reframe the PLC as a space to tackle real classroom challenges and achieve tangible results. Celebrating small wins—like improved student data or a successful shared strategy—can also rebuild enthusiasm and remind teachers why their work matters.
Reflective Question: How can your PLC’s goals align more closely with the daily realities and priorities of your teachers?
3. Ineffective Facilitation
Facilitators play a pivotal role in the success of PLCs. When facilitation is weak, meetings can veer off-topic, lack focus, or end without clear next steps. Ineffective facilitation not only wastes time but can also frustrate members and stall momentum.
Recognizing Facilitation Problems
Watch for these signs:
Meetings frequently stray into unrelated conversations or run over time.
Decisions are delayed or unclear, leaving members unsure about next steps.
Certain voices dominate discussions, silencing quieter members.
Imagine a meeting where a single team member monopolizes the conversation, leaving little space for others to share. Without intervention, this imbalance creates resentment and stifles collaboration.
Strengthening Facilitation
Select facilitators who are respected by their peers and provide them with the tools and training needed to lead effectively. Encourage them to establish norms, manage time, and create a space for equitable participation. Tools like the VOYAGE Facilitator Toolkit can guide facilitators in structuring productive meetings and navigating challenges. Additionally, regular check-ins with facilitators help ensure they feel supported in their role.
Reflective Question: What tools or training could help your facilitators lead more focused and effective meetings?
Addressing Resistance and Moving Forward
It’s impossible to talk about PLC struggles without addressing teacher resistance. Past experiences with ineffective PLCs, fears of professional vulnerability, or doubts about tangible outcomes often contribute to skepticism. Recognizing and addressing these barriers is just as important as tackling skill gaps or improving facilitation.
Foster trust within PLCs by validating teachers’ concerns and creating a psychologically safe environment for honest dialogue. Involve teachers in shaping the PLC agenda and celebrate even small successes to demonstrate progress. When educators feel heard and see results, resistance diminishes, and collaboration flourishes.
A Fresh Start for January
Skill gaps, motivation challenges, and facilitation issues aren’t insurmountable. By identifying these obstacles and taking targeted action, you can create PLCs that deliver on their promise. Use this winter break to reflect: What’s working in your PLCs, and where are the gaps?
Come January, small, intentional changes can lead to significant improvements. By building trust, empowering facilitators, and aligning goals with teachers’ realities, your PLCs can become the collaborative, impactful teams they were always meant to be.
Reflective Questions to Consider:
How can we build trust and psychological safety within our PLCs?
What specific barriers—whether skill, motivation, or facilitation—are holding us back?
What small changes can we make in January to create momentum?
If this article resonated with you, but you’re feeling unsure about where to start because the challenges seem overwhelming, consider leveraging the VOYAGE Horizons PD modules.
The VOYAGE Horizons modules are designed specifically for school leaders like you, providing step-by-step guidance to identify and address the root causes of PLC struggles. Whether your team needs help building skills, reigniting motivation, or strengthening facilitation, these modules offer practical, actionable solutions that align with the realities of your school.
Here’s how VOYAGE Horizons can help:
Address Skill Gaps: Gain access to resources like the Short Data Cycle and facilitator training to equip your PLC members with the tools they need to succeed.
Motivate Your Team: Use strategies for root cause analysis, goal setting, and celebrating progress to restore enthusiasm and focus.
Strengthen Facilitation: Empower facilitators with comprehensive training and tools to lead effective, collaborative meetings.
Each module includes professional development content that can be implemented at your own pace, with options for self-directed learning or group facilitation. VOYAGE Horizons also provides workbooks, facilitator guides, and customizable resources to ensure your team’s success.
PLCs don’t have to feel like another burden. With the right support, they can become the thriving, collaborative communities you envisioned. Ready to take the next step? Explore how VOYAGE Horizons can transform your PLCs into powerful engines of growth and collaboration.
