Network Weaving

Community of Practice

December 12, 2013C&NN Grassroots

Leaders

WELCOME

COMMUNITY OF PRACTICEDECEMBER 12, 2013

Welcome

Sharing: What have you learned, done or thought about since our last community of practice?

Discussion about these questions from our last session: • How is this approach different and why is it important?• How do we get started, engage others and use network weaving in our

day-to-day work — including work in very structured organizations?• How can we use network weaving to improve and sustain our regional

initiatives? • How do we implement without ‘falling on the sword’?

Wrap up: What is the next step(s) for you?

Next Session: Questions and things you would like to explore.

NETWORK INTERRELATIONSHIPS

• Intentional Network• Relationship• Action• Support

Adapted from June Holly

NETWORKS

Interrelated Aspects

Building RelationshipsCreating Quality Connections

Convening with a Focus

Action and Self-Organizing Helping People Initiate and Act with Others

Adapted from June Holley

Supporting the Network

GET STARTEDAND BE HAPPY THAT YOU DID

• Get into the mindset!

• Share your enthusiasm to find other network champions to work/weave with you

• Decide what you want to accomplish – what is a realistic and energizing next step?

• Provide/share the appropriate network weaving tools to accomplish your next step.

SIMPLE WAYS TO START

• Who will I reach out to next? • What do I need to

reach out to them• What triangles will I

close? How will I close the triangle – in person, on the phone, via email?

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Connecting PeopleCreating Quality Connections

Strategies• Deepening relationships

& building trust• Closing triangles• Adding to the periphery• Mapping & analyzing

maps

Adapted from June Holley

DEVELOPING STRATEGIES & CONVENINGINTENTIONAL ASPECT

Understand SystemIdentify Leverage PointsDevelop StrategiesBenefit from Diversity

Strategies• Convening & facilitating• Openness to Diversity• Strategy sessions• Clustering• Systems analysis

Adapted from June Holley

HELPING PEOPLE INITIATE & ACT

Many people initiating collaborative and innovative projects & experiments

Strategies• Set-up coordination

systems• Form action groups• Help others form action

groups• Share learning with the

larger network

Adapted from June Holley

SUPPORTING THE NETWORK

Helping the network be more effective and resilient

Strategies• Understanding of what network

needs• Reflection and synergies• Support and training of network

weavers• Setting-up of communications

systems• Development of social media• Innovation funds & other funding

Adapted from June Holley

SHIFTING MINDSET

“Learning to lead with a network mindset is not assimple as acquiring a new skill. Often our deeplyheld ideas about leadership collide with new waysof leading that are more distributed, relational, andinterdependent. Those who lead with a networkmindset practice openness and transparency, let go ofcontrolling outcomes, and believe in the leadershippotential of everyone.”

- From Networks & Leadership, Deborah Meehan

OUR ROLE AS NETWORK WEAVERS

As network weavers we help people become aware of the web of relationships – or networks – in which they are embedded and encourage them to become more intentional about those networks.

 

In the role of catalyst, we:• Provide information about

networks• Tell stories about networks• Help people understand

why networks are so important• Explain the benefits of a

network approach

Adapted from June Holley

FOUR NETWORK WEAVING ROLES

Role Skills & Tasks

Connector Mapping networks, analyzing maps, closing triangles, building trust

Network Catalyst & Facilitator Convening people to organize as an intentional network, helping network determine purpose & structure, setting up agendas and facilitating meetings

Project Coordinator & Coaching Coordinators

Forming action groups, setting up coordination systems, helping others form action groups, sharing learning with the larger network

Network Support

(Adapted from June Holley)

Identify network needs and help set-up communication system, social media, innovations funds, evaluation & reflection, and network weaver training

NETWORK STRATEGIES

• Build social capital• Catalyze community engagement• Change hearts & minds• Mobilize more people to your cause• Stimulate creativity and innovation• Bring projects to scale• Transform systems• Foster greater equity

From Leadership & Networks, Deborah Meehan

WHEN IS A NETWORK LENS USEFUL?

A network lens is useful when you need: • More engagement and inclusion• Breakthroughs and innovation• Resources or expertise • Better communication• More trust for the success of the initiative• Learning and reflection to make a difference

See more details in An Intro to Network Weaving, Chapter 3, page 49

PHASES OF NETWORK DEVELOPMENT

GROWTH AND SUSTAINABIL ITY

PHASES OF NETWORK DEVELOPMENTSCATTERED FRAGMENTS

Instead of allowing unconnected fragments to drift, network weavers actively create new interactions and build the network.

Building Smart Communities, June Holley and Valdis Krebs

PHASES OF NETWORK DEVELOPMENT

HUB & SPOKE

Network weavers begin with a hub & spoke network with the weaver as the hub. The weaver has the vision, the energy, and the social skills to connect diverse individuals and groups and start information flowing.

Building Smart Communities, June Holley and Valdis Krebs

PHASES OF NETWORK DEVELOPMENT

MULTI-HUB

As the weaver connects to many groups, information is soon flowing into the weaver about each group’s skills, goals, successes and failures. An astute weaver can now start to introduce clusters with common or complimentary interests & goals.

Building Smart Communities, June Holley and Valdis Krebs

PHASES OF NETWORK DEVELOPMENT

CORE/PERIPHERYThe network weavers can now begin to form inter-regional alliances to shape and influence policy that will strengthen the community or region. This happens by connecting network cores to each other utilizing their peripheries.

The network weaver maximizes the reach of the periphery into new areas, while keeping the core strong. The weavers now focuses on multi-core projects of large substance that will have major impact on the community.

Building Smart Communities, June Holley and Valdis Krebs

MAPPING

Mapping is useful to learn and understand:

• What we notice about our network?

• Whether there are enough people - do we need more? Are enough people in the core? Who might be recruited?

• If certain people are excluded or under represented. Are certain skills and resources missing?

• If people are connected to each other – are there parts of the system not connected? Who needs to be connected?

For more information about mapping, see Chapter 4 in the Network Weaving Handbook. Contact network mapping consultant Ken Vance Borland for more information about mapping your network. Contact info: kenvb@consplan.net

RECOMMENDATIONS & PERSPECTIVES FROM MONITOR INSTITUTE

• Design as a network, not an organization, and invest in collective infrastructure• Cultivate leadership at many levels• Create multiple opportunities to connect and

communicate• Involve both funders and nonprofits • Understand the system • Remain adaptive, emergent, and committed to a

long term vision