Network Weaving Community of Practice December 12, 2013 C&NN Grassroots Leaders WELCOME

COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE DECEMBER 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 Relationships Creating 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 STARTED AND 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 ?

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Connecting People Creating Quality Connections Strategies Deepening relationships & building trust Closing triangles Adding to the periphery Mapping & analyzing maps Adapted from June Holley

DEVELOPING STRATEGIES & CONVENING INTENTIONAL ASPECT Understand System Identify Leverage Points Develop Strategies Benefit 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 as simple as acquiring a new skill. Often our deeply held ideas about leadership collide with new ways of leading that are more distributed, relational, and interdependent. Those who lead with a network mindset practice openness and transparency, let go of controlling outcomes, and believe in the leadership potential 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 RoleSkills & Tasks ConnectorMapping networks, analyzing maps, closing triangles, building trust Network Catalyst & FacilitatorConvening 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 SUSTAINABILITY

PHASES OF NETWORK DEVELOPMENT SCATTERED 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/PERIPHERY The 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:

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