Network Leadership Toolkit - Children & Nature Network · Network Leadership Toolkit This...

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Network Leadership Toolkit ThistoolkitwascreatedbyJuneHolleyandis largelybasedonactivitiesfromtheNetworkWeaver Handbook. The toolkit is a set of activities that you can use to stimulate morenetwork leadership. The list below can help you select activities to help you developdifferent aspects of network leadership. Think about which aspect you most need todevelop, and then select the activity or activities that can help develop that particularaspect.Someoftheactivitiesarequitesimpleandneednofurtherexplanation.SomearemorecomplexsothedirectionsarecontainedintheModulelistedaftertheactivity. Section 1. Tools/Exercises for Relationship Building

● SpeedNetworking● YarnPeerAssist● ClosingTrianglesGame

Section 2. Tools for Introducing and Building Network Leadership

● NetworkWeavingChecklist;NetworkWeavingChecklistGrid;Application:HowtoUsetheNetworkWeavingChecklist

● ActionLearning:Reflectionandlearningprotocolsfordebriefingprojectsandacceleratinglearningwhiledoing

● PeerAssists Section 3. Tools for Building Network Culture & Structure

● NetworkCulture/MindsetAssessment● NetworkCultureAssessmentWorksheet● SharingYourNetworkPurpose

Section 4. Tools for Visualizing, Assessing and Weaving Your Network

●IndividualMapDrawingActivity ●MapDrawingwithPost-its ●Whoismissing?●ImprovingYourPeriphery●Closingtriangles

Section 5. Tools for Promoting Self-Organizing ●Clustering●UsingGoogleFormstoCreateaClusteringSurvey●SupportingSelf-OrganizedProjects

Section 6. Communication tools/strategies

●SettingUpaCommunicationsEcosystem● CommunicationsEcosystemWorksheet● StepstoaMoreEngagingCommunicationEcosystem

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Section 1:Tools/Exercises for Relationship Building

Rationale: Ahealthy,effectivenetworkmeansthatmanypeopleinthenetworkknoweachotherwellenoughthattheyknowhowthatpersonmaycontributetoanyprojecttheyinitiate.Mostpeopleprimarilyknowpeoplelikethemselves.Atanymeetingorconvening,it’simportanttohelppeoplegettoknowthosetheydon’tknow.It’salsoimportantthatparticipantslearnhowtoconnectandsupporteachother.

Speed Networking Thisisagreatactivitythatyoucanuseatthestartofeverymeeting,usingdifferentquestions.Theimportantpartisthedebriefportionthathelpspeoplebecomemoreawareoftheirlisteningskills.ThissessioncouldbedonevirtuallyinvirtualconferencingplatformssuchasAdobeConnect,MaestroorZoomaseachoffersthecapacityforbreakoutrooms. Encourageparticipantstousethisactivityatthestartofalltheirmeetingsandconvenings,changingthequestionstosuitthetopicofthegathering.Thisisasimplewaytoencourageparticipantstobecomenetworkleaders. Directions: Haveeveryonestandupandfindsomeonetheydon’tknow,ordon’tknowwell.Instructparticipantstotaketurnslisteningtoeachotherastheyansweroneofthefollowingquestions:1.Whatexcitesyouabouttheideaofnetworks? 2.Whatwouldyouliketolearnaboutnetworks? 3.Whatisanexampleofaveryeffectivenetworkyouhavebeenapartof? Youcanadaptthequestionstofitthetopicofthemeeting.Givethemabout5minutesfortheentireexchange.After2.5minutes,remindthemtochangepartnersiftheyhaven’talready. Afterthefirstround,havethegroupdebrieftheexperience.Ask“Whohadareallygoodlistener?”Thenaskoneofthosewhoraisedtheirhands,whatthatpersondidthatmadethemawaretheywerelisteningwell?Askseveralotherstopointoutotheraspectsofgoodlistening(eyecontact,leaningtowardsme,restatinganswers,askingquestions,etc). Thenhavepeoplefindanotherpersontheydon’tknowandrepeattheactivitywithanotherquestion.Afterthisaskpeopleiftheyfoundthemselveslisteningmoreeffectively.

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Yarn Peer Assist Youwillneedalargeballofyarn(easilyfoundinmostthriftstores)forthisactivity.Thisworksbestforgroupsof10-30people.ThankstoRoiCrouchforthisactivity. Havepeopleformacircle.Getavolunteertostarttheprocess.Havethatpersonshareachallengetheyarehaving.Havepeopleinthecirclewhohavesomeexperienceoradvicethatmighthelpthatfirstpersonraisetheirhand.Havethefirstperson,holdingontotheendoftheyarn,throwtheballtothatperson. Thesecondpersonthensharessomequickadviceoraresourceforthefirstperson’schallenge.Encouragepeopletokeepitshort,butmentionthattheymightwanttotalkaboutthechallengemoredeeplyduringabreak. Thenhavethesecondpersonmentionachallengetheyarehaving,andhaveothersinthecircleraisetheirhandiftheyhavesomeadvicethatmighthelpthatchallenge.Havethesecondpersonholdthestrandofyarn,thenthrowtheballtooneofthepeopleraisingtheirhand. Continuelikethisuntileveryonehashadachancetoshareachallenge.

Using Events to Close Triangles Thisactivitywasusedatabigin-persongatheringofanemergingnetwork(seedescriptiononblogpostwiththesamenameatwww.flisrand.com). Instructions:

1. Startwitha101onClosingTriangles,whatitmeans,howtodoitandwhyitisimportantinnetworks(seeNetworkWeaverHandbook).

2. Shareastorytoprovideanexampleofhowameaningfulconnectionhappenswhen

atriangleisclosedbetweentwopeoplewhodidn'tknoweachotherintheroom.

3. Askpeopletopulloutthe"ClosingTrianglesDrawingEntryform"fromtheirregistrationpacket(seesamplebelow).

4. Explainhowtocompletetheformandwherethelargeglassbowlofcompleted

entryformswillbe.Keepthebowlinapublicplaceliketherefreshmentstable,atregistrationoraresourcetable.Itcouldevenbeupatthepodium.

5. Givetimeimmediatelyafterexplainingtheactivityforpeopletodoit.Itcouldbe

rightbeforeabreakandpeoplecoulddotheactivity(networkweaverscouldhelpothersgetthegamegoing)andthenaftertheactivity(orbreak)drawingfromthe

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completedentryformsforprizes(booksonnetworkthemes).Repeatthiscycleofgivingtime,encouraging/modelingengagementandrecognizing/rewardingthebehaviorseveraltimesthroughouttheconference.

6. Besuretouseaclearglassbowlsopeoplecanseethecompletedforms

representingnewconnectionsbeingmadeandcelebrationofthoseconnectionsandthepracticeofclosingtriangles.

ClosingTrianglesDrawingEntryForm

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Section 2:

Tools for Introducing and Building

Network Leadership

Rationale: NetworkLeadershipisquitedifferentthantraditionalleadership.Anetworkapproachwillrequireanincreasingnumberofpeopleinthenetworktotakeresponsibilityforthehealthofthenetworkbyconnectingothers,initiatingcollaborativeaction,conveningpeopleandmakingsurethatthenetworkiswellsupported.Theprimaryroleofanetworkleaderistohelpothersbecomenetworkleaders! Networkleadershipisnotfocusedonindividualssomuchasasetoffunctionsthatneedtobefilled.Mostpeoplewillfillsomebutnotallofthesefunctions,andmorethanonepersonshouldbefillingeachofthesefunctions. TheNetworkWeavingChecklisthelpsindividualsassesstheirnetworkweavingskillsandhelpsprojectsand/ornetworksdeterminewhatnetworkfunctionsarefilledandwhichwillrequiresometrainingtofill. Goodreflectionandlearningsessionsandpeerassistsareakeyaspectofnetworkleadership:agroupofpeersmakingsenseoftheirexperienceandhelpingeachotherwithchallenges.

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Network Weaving Checklist

Whichnetworkfunctionsareyoufilling?Markeachfrom1to5,with5being“majorstrength”and1being“lackthisquality.”

Connecting _____1.Lovetounearthotherpeople’sdreamsandvisions,strengthsandgifts

_____2.Helppeopleidentifychallenges&introducethemtootherswhocanhelp

_____3.Modelanapproachtorelationshipsthatispositiveandfocusedonstrengths&gifts

_____4.Treateveryoneasapeer

_____5.Encouragesharinginformationandresourceswithotherswithoutexpectingareturnfromthatpersonbecauseyouknowotherswillsharewithyou

_____6.Helppeopleconnecttootherswithdifferentperspectivesandfromdifferentbackgrounds

_____7.Encouragepeopletolistendeeplytoeachother

_____8.Connectpeopletootherswhoshareasimilarinterest

_____9.Helppeoplemakeaccurateandrealisticassessmentsofothers

____10.Helppeoplebringinnovationandnewperspectivesintotheirnetworkbyaddingnewpeopletotheirnetwork

Self-Organized Project Coordinating & Coaching _____1.Goodatidentifyingopportunitieswhereasmallactioncouldmakeadifferencein

dealingwithanissueorproblem

_____2.Helppeoplefindotherswithsimilarinterestsandsupportthemtoformacollaborativeproject

_____3.Encouragepeopletospendtimeresearchingwhatothershavedonetoworkonthisissue,andhowtheireffortsmightprovideguidancefortheproject’sactions

_____4.Havetheskillsneededforprojectsuccess:goodatsettingupmeetings,organizingcommunications,andtrackingtask

_____5.Initiateactivitieswithpeoplefromdifferentorganizationsorgroups.

_____6.Notattachedtospecificnextstepsbutenjoyhelpingpeopleidentifyingandimplementactions

_____7.Helppeoplelistentoeachotherrespectfullyandseehowtheirdifferentperspectivescontributetoabetterproject

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_____8.Helppeoplestopandreflectabouthowaprojectisworkingandiftheyneedtomakechanges

_____9.Likecheckinginwithpeopleandsendingreminderstomakesuretheirtasksareontrack

____10.Encouragepeopletoshareabouttheirprojectwithlargernetwork

Facilitating

_____1.Convenepeoplewithcommonoroverlappingintereststoformanintentionalnetwork.

_____2.Makesureconveningsincludetimeforrelationshipandtrustbuilding.

_____3.Helppeoplemap(oridentify)peopleinthenetworkandseewhoneedstobeaddedorconnected

_____4.Helpthenetworkparticipantsbecomealignedthroughworkingtodevelopanetworkmindset.

_____5.Enableanetworktoembedanetworkmindsetinallitsworkandoperations.

_____6.Helpthenetworkmapthesystemitischangingandidentifyhighpotentialleveragepointswheretransformationismorelikelytooccur.

_____7.Helpfacilitatetheformationofworkinggroupsthatfocusonleveragepointsinasystem.

_____8.Doclusteringactivitiestoenablepeopleinthenetworktoidentifycommoninterestsandformactiongroupstoworkonthoseinterests.

_____9.Helppeopleinthenetworksharewhattheyarelearningastheyimplementtheirprojects.

____10.Findresourcestosupportthefunctioningofthenetwork.

Supporting _____1.Support,encourageandmentornetworkleadership.

_____2.Setup(orhelpnetworksetup)communicationssystemssoeveryoneknowswhatishappening,collaborativeprojectsaresupported,andlearningiswidelyshared.

_____3.Helppeopleinthenetworklearnaboutsocialmediaandwebplatformsandhowitcanhelppeopleinthenetworkcommunicatemoreeffectively.

_____4.Providetrainingandcoachinginnetworkleadership,especiallysupportforprojectcoordinators.

_____5.HelpsetupCommunitiesofPracticefornetworkleadershiptolearnskillsandoffereachotherpeersupport.

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_____6.Makesurereflectionandlearningfromprojectsissharedwiththerestofthenetworksoeveryonebenefits

_____7.Setupsystemsforjust-in-timetrackingofnetworkmindset,networkleadership,andnetworkstructuresandhelpingnetworkparticipants

_____8.Setupaninnovationfundtoprovideseedfundsforsmallcollaborations

_____9.Encouragethenetworktocreateanewkindofresourcesystemthatincludesnetworkparticipantskillsandinnovativeuseofcrowdfundingplatforms.

____10.Encouragefunderstosetupcollaborativepoolsoffundsandincludeparticipativedecision-makingthatincludesnetworkparticipants.

Strengths? Areaswhereyouwouldliketobuildyourskills?

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Network Weaving Checklist Grid HaveeachpersonputaREDdotinthequadrantwheretheyscoredthehighestand/ordothemostandaGREENdotinthequadrantwheretheywouldliketoworkmoreorlearnmoreabout. ConnectingFacilitating

ProjectCoordinating Supporting

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Application: How to Use the Network Weaver Checklist Howcouldyouusethischecklistwithyournetwork? When/where/howmightyouintroducethistothem? Howmightthistoolbeusedfortrackingandevaluation? Howdoesthegridhelpyouthinkofthewholenetwork’sfunctions,whoisfillingthosefunctions,andwhichfunctionsarenotwell-filled?Inaddition,howcanithelpthenetworkseewheretrainingmightbeneededinsomeofthefunctions?

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Action Learning Reflectionandlearningprotocolsfordebriefingprojectsandacceleratinglearningwhiledoing

LearningProtocol:Pre

LearningProtocol:During

LearningProtocol:Post

-Whatdowehopewillhappen:whatwouldsuccessbe?Howlongwillittake? -Howwillweknowifwearemakingprogress?

-Arewemakingtheprogressweexpectedto? -Doesourtimeframeseemright? -Doweneedtotrysomethingdifferent?

-Wasourhypothesisaboutwhatwouldhappencorrect? -Werewesuccessful?Ifnot,doweknowhowwecouldhaveachievedadifferentresult?

-Whatareroles,responsibilitiesandplansforthisproject?

-Howarewecarryingoutourresponsibilitiesandworkingasateam?

-Didweimplementourplanwell,didourteamfunctionwell?

-Whatareresourcesweneedtodothis,dowehavethem?

-Areweattractingtheresourcesweneedforthiswork?

-Didtheteamhavethesupportsresourcesisneeded?

-Whatdowehopetolearnfromthis?

-Whatarewelearning?-Whatimplicationsdoesthishaveforrealtimechanges?

-Whatarethemostimportantthingswelearnedabouttheidea,theteam,andimplementation?

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Peer Assists PeerAssistsbringtogetheragroupofpeerstoprovidefeedbackonaproblem,project,oractivity.Itencouragesparticipatorylearninganddrawslessonsfromthegroup’sknowledgeandexperience. Thesystematicprocessgeneratesnewperspectivesonasituationandoptionsforaction.Thebenefitsincludesharinglearning,buildingconnectionsandstrengtheningtrustandinsightsinanetwork. Peerassistworkverywellaspartofavirtualvideoconference. Pre-planning:Withthepersonorgroupwithachallengedetermine: a.Thepurpose b.Thechallengeorfocusarea(beopentoreframingit) c.Thepeergroup(diverseskillsandexperienceandabletoaskhelpfulquestions) d.Thelengthofthesession(canbebetween20minutesand1hour) e.Afacilitatortowatchthetimeandprocess f.Anote-takertocapturebreakthroughthinking,actionstepsandlearning Conductthesession:

1. Facilitatorsstatesthepurpose2. Presenter(maybeateam)describestheissueandgoal3. Groupasksclarifyingquestions4. Goroundwherepeoplegiveadvice,shareresources,andidentifyoptionsand

opportunities5. Thepersonorgroupwiththechallengesummarizeswhatinsightstheyreceived

fromthesessionandthoughtsaboutfuturenextsteps 6. Thenote-takercapturesactions,insightsortakeaways

Tips:

● Allowtimebeforeorafterforsocializing.Rapportishelpfulforlearning.● Usethefacilitatortostickwiththeprocessandthenote-takertocaptureideas

generatedandactionsagreedupon.● Thinkaboutwhoelsemightbenefitfromthelessonslearnedandshareand

reuseknowledge.● Dependingonthecomplexityoftheissue,thepeerassistcanbeasshortas20

minutesandupto1hourwithsharingfromotherswithcomparableexperiences.

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Section 3: Tools for Building Network

Culture & Structure

Rationale: Networkapproachesworkmosteffectivelyifthenetworktakestimetohelppeoplemovefromahierarchical/organizationalwayofoperatingtoanetworkwayofthinkingandbeing.Afirststepistohelppeopleinthenetworkbecomemoreawareofwhatthismeans.Oncepeoplebecomeawareoftheirownpersonalchallengesandthenetwork’schallenges,theycandevelopstrategiesformovingtoamorenetworkwayofbeing. Networksmayalsobenefitbybecomingmoreintentional.Todothisoftenmeanshelpingpeoplesharetheirsenseofpurposeandvision.Somegroupsmaywanttocraftavisionorpurposestatement,butit’simportantthatitisbroadenoughsothatthenetworkcanexpandandbeinclusive.

Network Culture/Mindset Assessment

UsetheworksheetNetworkCultureAssessmentWorksheetwithagroup.Youmaywanttoredothecharttoincludeonly20items. Setupchartpaperonthewallwiththelist.Havepeopleputdotsorlinesontheitemsthattheyfeelaremostchallengingforthempersonally.Thenseeiftherearepatterns:placeswhereallofthoseintheroomarehavingsomedifficulty.Havesmallgroupstalkaboutwhythisis,andstrategiestheycouldtrypersonallyandintheirorganizationornetworktoshifttoamorenetworkmindset. Didtheactivitycreatenewawareness?Werepeoplewillingtoworkonshiftingtheirculture? Checkinwiththegroupaweeklater.Whatdidtheydotochangetheirculture?Whatchallengesdidtheyface?

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Network Culture Assessment Worksheet Foreachitem,putanumberbetween1and5todescribehowcharacteristicthisisofyourself,yourorganizationoryournetwork.5meansthisitemisverycharacteristicofyouoryourorganizationoryournetworkand1meansthatitisnotyetexpressed.

Cultural Meme Personal Organization Network

Open

Inclusive

Transparent

Noticing

Accepting

Valuediversityanddifference

Turnconflicttobreakthroughs

Unattached

Listening

Innovative

OpportunitySeeking

Embracingchallenges

Learning

Experimental

Exploring

Comfortablewithuncertainty

Valuereflectionandlearning

Resourceful

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Playfulandfun

Initiating

Interact as Peers

Give and receive

Appreciative

Listen

Collaborative

Interdependent

Connected

Engaged and engaging

Communicating

Mutual

Share

Reciprocate

Symbiotic

Transformative

Spreading

Amplifying

Coaching

Insightful

Cascading

Expansive

Connective

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Connecting

Reaching out

Including

Closing triangles

Swift trust

Caring

Aware

Self-aware

Self-caring

Centered

Work/life balance

Caring of others

Other

Onceyouhavecompletedthechart,talkoverwhatyoudiscovered. Selectthreeyouwouldmostliketoworkoninthenextmonth.Trykeepingajournalonyourprogress.

Sharing Your Network Purpose

BringtogethernetworkparticipantsandhavethemwritewhytheywanttobepartofamoreintentionalnetworkonPost-ItNotes.Theycanfilloutmorethanone.Thenhaveonepersonputthatpurposeonthewallortwolargechartpapers.OtherswhohaveasimilarpurposeshouldthenputtheirPost-itNoteclosetothatperson’sPost-It. Thenhaveanotherpersonputuptheirpurposefollowedbyotherswithasimilarpurpose.Continuethisprocessuntilallofthepurposesareonthewall.

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Duringabreak,haveseveralpeoplesummarizethevariouspurposesandmakeacombinedpurposestatement.Ifthereareanycontroversialordisputedareas,thegroupwillneedtodealwiththosenow. ThissharedpurposecanthenbesharedinaGoogleDocsootherscanaddoreditthepurposestatement.

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Section 4:

Tools for Visualizing, Assessing and Weaving your Network

Rationale: Networkmapsareoneofthebestwaystohelppeople“see”thenetworksinwhichtheyparticipate.Networkmapscanbehanddrawnduringameetingorcanbepartofaseveralmonthprocessofmappingusingasurveyinstrumentandsoftwareoraweb-basedmappingtool. Inthissection,wepresentseveralwaystodevelopnetworkmapsinagroupsetting.Thefirst-IndividualMapDrawingActivity-canbedonebyindividualswhothendebriefwhattheydiscoveredwithanotherperson.Handouttheworksheet,givetheindividualsabout10minutestocomplete,andthenhavethemspendanother10minutessharingdebriefswithaneighbor. Thesecondiswaytosee“thenetworkintheroom.” Oncethenetworkhasbeenvisualized,participantsneedtotakestepstoimprovethenetworkbyaddingmissinggroupsandaddingtotheperiphery.

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Individual Map Drawing Activity Thinkofaprojectyouarecurrentlyworkingon.Ona9x11paperorlargechartpaperdrawacircleforyourselfandlabel.Thendrawcirclesforothersyouareworkingwithonthatproject.Thisincludesallthosewhoarecomingtomeetings,providingresourcessuchasspaceormoney,thosewritingupreportsornotes,etc. Next,drawlinesbetweenyouandtheothers.Thendrawlinesbetweenanyofthepeopleintheprojectwhoknoweachother.ThisistheProjectCore. Now,outfurther,drawcirclesforotherindividualsandorganizationsthatyouareworkingwithontheprojectbutlessfrequentlyanddrawlinestotheindividualsinyourprojectnetworkwhohavetherelationshipwiththatindividual.Thiswouldincludeconsultantshelpingtodesignabrochure,peopleyoucalleduptolearnaboutsimilarprojects,programofficersforyourprojectgrant,etc.ThisisyourProjectPeriphery. Thenaddotherindividualsorgroupstheindividualsareconnectedto(whomightaddvaluetoyourproject)anddrawlinesconnectingthem.Thiswouldbewhensomeoneinyourprojectgroupknowsagrantwriterorgraphicsconsultantwhomightbepulledintotheproject,orifsomeoneintheprojecthasagoodrelationshipwithafunderwhomightbeinterestedinyourproject.ThesearewhatiscalledYourFriends’FriendsNetwork. Finally,aroundtheoutsideedge,putcirclesforindividualsorgroupsyouarenotworkingwithonthisproject,butwhocouldaddvaluetotheprojectiftheywereinvolved.Thesemightbepeoplewithexpertise,peoplefromothercommunitieswhohavebeeninnovatinginwaysthatwouldbeofvaluetoyourinitiative,orpeoplewhoareoftenleftoutofprojects(peopleofcolor,low-incomeindividuals,individualsbeingservedbytheinitiative,youngpeople,elders,etc).ThisisyourPotentialNetwork. Thenanswerthequestions:

a. Whatdoyounoticeaboutthisnetwork?Isyourprojectperipheryeasytoaccessfortheresourcesandexpertiseyouneed?

b. Isyourcorelargeenoughtogettheworkdone?c. Whoismissingfromthenetwork?Arethepeopleyouareservinginyournetwork?d. Whointheperiphery,friends’friends,orpotentialnetworkwouldaddmostvalue

toyourprojectnetworkiftheycouldbecomepartofthecore?Partoftheperiphery?

e. Whocouldhelpyougettoknowkeypeopleinyourfriends’friendsnetworkorinthepotentialnetwork?

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Network Mapping with Post-Its BethKanterusedthisactivityinourrecentDesignThinkinggatheringtoidentifymodulesforNetworkLeadership.Itworksbestwithagroupbetween10and40peopleinsize. Preparation:HaveastackofdifferentcoloredandshapedPost-Itnotesontablessoparticipantshaveeasyaccesstothem. IndividualInstructions:Takeone(nameacolor)Post-Itandwriteyournameonit.OnothercoloredPost-Itswritethenameofagroupornetworkthatyouareapartof. GroupInstructions:Haveonepersoncomeup,saytheirnameandorganizationastheyputtheirPost-Itonalargewhiteboard,thenputtheirnetworkPost-Itsaroundtheirname,brieflydescribingeachone. Whenthenextpersoncomesuptheyputthemselves(andtheirnetworks)closetothefirstpersoniftheyknowthatperson,orfurtherawayiftheydonotknowthatperson.Thenusingamarker,theydrawlinesbetweentheirnameandanyoftheotherperson’snetworkstheyarealsoconnectedto. Aftereveryonehasputtheirnetworksonthewhiteboard,havethemreflectonthemap.Aretheysurprisedathowexpansivethenetworkintheroomis?Whomighttheyconnectwithduringabreakthathasconnectionstheyareinterestedin?

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Who Is Missing?

Belowarealistofgroupsthatareoftenmissingisournetworks.Foreachone,listspecificindividualsororganizationsyoumightinviteintothenetwork,andkeypeoplewhocouldactasbridgesorconnectorsbetweenthatgroupandyournetwork.Suchpeoplemayormaynotbelongtothatgroupbutarerespectedbythegroup.Addadditionalcategories. Missinggroup Peopleyouknoworknowoffromthatgroup Bridgepeople

Youngpeople

Olderpeople

Peopleofcolor

Peopledirectlyimpactedbytheproblemorissue

Youropponents

Low-resourcepeople

Improving Your Periphery

Networkleaderscanusethiswithworkgroupsorwithlargenetworks. Havealistontheleftsideofawhiteboardofpossibletypesofpeoplewhomightbemissingfromtheperipheryoftheirnetwork.Thislistmightincludefunders,otherdonors,experts(listtypesuchasfacilitator,researcher),peopletryingsimilarstrategiesinotherplacesaroundtheworld,peoplefromothersectors,etc.

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Thenextstepistoprioritizethegroupslistedincolumn1thataremostneededbythenetwork.Which5-6aremostcriticalforthenetworktobuildrelationshipswith? Theninthecenteroftheboard,havepeoplelistnames(orusedifferentcoloredPost-Its)–ofindividualstheyalreadyknow,individualstheydon’tknow,andthenorganizationsthatmighthavestaffwithneededskills.Ifnooneknowsanyoneintheorganization,thegroupmightcomeupwiththenameofsomeonetheyknowwhoislikelytoknowindividualsintheorganization. Nowmakeacolumnontherightsidethatliststhenameofthepersonwhowillreachoutanddeveloparelationshipwiththepersonororganization.Thegoalisnottogettheseindividualsto“join”thenetwork,butrathertobeavailabletobecalledonforadvice,helpinfindingnewresources,orforlearningeventsorsituations.It’simportantthatthosereachingoutunderstandtheinterestsoftheindividualsothatthenetworkcanreciprocateeffectivelyandappropriatelywhenaskingforhelp. Networkleadersneedtoencouragepeoplewhotakepartinthisexercisetothinkabouthowtheycouldusethisactivityinothernetworksorprojectstheyareapartof.

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Closing Triangles Printoutcopiesofthechartbelowand/orwritethechartonapieceofchartpaper. NameofPersontobeConnected

ResourcePersonyouwanttoconnectthemto

Potentialshared interest

WhenandWheretoMakeIntroductions

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Section 5:

Tools for Promoting Self-Organizing

Rationale: Themostimportantwaythatnetworksgenerateimpactandtransformationisthroughself-organizing.Self-organizinghappenswhenanyoneinthenetworkseessomethingthatneedstohappenandfindsdiverseindividualstocollaboratewith.Thenthatgroupcatalyzesaself-organizedprojecttotryoutsomethingtodealwiththeissueorproblem. Onewaynetworkweaverscanhelpself-organizingtakeoffisbyhelpingpeoplefindothersinterestedinthesamethingandenablingthemtotalkaboutwhattheymightdotogether.ThisiscalledclusteringandcanbedonethroughsurveysorusingPost-itnotesatagathering. However,onceaself-organizedprojectisunderway,thegroupwillneedcoachingandsupport-sinceself-organizedprojectsarequitedifferentformteamsordepartmentsinorganizations.

Clustering Havepeopleatameetingansweraquestionsuchas:

1. Whatdoyouthinkwouldmakethemostdifferenceinyournetworkrightnow(andthatyouwouldbewillingtoputenergyinto)?

2. Whatdoyoumostwanttolearnaboutwithothers?

3. Whatisanactionyou’dliketotakerightnowwithothers?

HavethemwriteanansweronalargerPost-itandaddtheirname.Havethemposttheseonawallandtakeabreak.

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Getseveralvolunteerstoclustersimilaranswerstogetheronthewallandthenmakeashorttitleforthetopiconapieceofposterboard.Puttheseoneachtable-alongwiththesetofPost-itsonthattopic. Whenpeoplereturnfromtheirbreak,havethemfindthetablewiththeirtopic. Haveeachgroupsharewhytheyselectedthattopic,whytheythinktheirtopicissoimportant,whattheythinkisasmallactionortwothegroupcoulddotogether,whentheymightmeetnext,andwhoiswillingtoremindthegroupandsetupagroupemail. Organizersneedtogatheralltheinformationabouteachgroupandcheckinwithgroupcoordinatorsaweeklater.

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Using Google Forms to Create a Clustering Survey

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OpenaGoogleform,seeabove.AskONEquestionwith3-5choicesaboutburningissues,topicsofgrouplearning,actionareas.Askpeoplewhichtheywouldmostliketodorightnow. Thenaskiftheywouldbewillingtoconveneorhelpcoordinatethegroup.Youmaywanttodescribewhatcoordinationwouldinvolve:

1.Settingupandremindingpeopleaboutmeetingtimesanddates 2.Takingnotesorfindingavolunteertotakenotes 3.Facilitatingmeetingsorfindingavolunteertodothis

Youcanpresenttheinformationfromasurveyasachartoryoucanmaptheresultsusingsoftware.

Supporting Self-Organized Projects Oneofthefirstthingsanetworkweavercandotosupportacollaborativeself-organizedprojectistoexplainthedifferencebetweenateamandaproject,usingthechartbelow.Inaddition,it’softenusefulforthenetworkweavertocoachtheproject,checkingintohelpdealwithanychallengesthatarise.

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Section 6: Communication Tools/Strategies

Rationale: Healthyandeffectivenetworksbenefitfromarobustcommunicationsecosystem-asetoftools,places,andplatformsthatenableinteractionanddiscussiontooccureasilyamongparticipants(notmediatedbyanycentralindividualororganization). It’sbeneficialtohavethenetwork(oraworkinggroup)explicitlyidentifythecurrentcommunicationecosystem,andaddnewplatformsasneeded.Peoplewilloftenneedtrainingtousesomeoftheseplatforms,andcoachingastheyusethem,soyouwillneedtoidentifysomeindividualstofillthisfunction.

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Developing a Communications Ecosystem Usingthediagramsabove,helpyournetworkand/orleadershipcohort(s)designitscommunicationecosystem.Whichplatformorplatformswillituseforinformationsharing?Forrelationshipbuilding?Forcollaboration?Fornewideas? Initialworkcanoftenbedonebyasmalldesigngroupwhichcanbringadrafttothewholenetworkforfeedback.Thenthedesigngroupneedstosetuptheplatforms,andprovidetrainingintheiruse. It’softenagoodideatostartwiththebasics-learningawebconferencingplatform,settingupagroupemail,andorganizingaGoogleDocsfolder.Oncepeoplearefamiliarwiththese,thegroupcanprovidetraininginplatformssuchasDoodleorScoop.Itforthosewhoareinterested.

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Steps to a More Engaging Communication Ecosystem

Atmeetings:Helppeoplegettoknoweachotherandmoredeeply 1.Breakintosmallgroups 2.Havetimeforgroupsoftwoforrelationshipbuilding(SpeedNetworking,

page103NetworkWeaverHandbook) 3.UseSkypesomorepeoplecanattend 4.Encouragedifferentpeopletofacilitatedifferentpartsofthemeeting 5.Makealltasksagroupoftwo

Groupemail

1.Havesomeone/smallgroupcommittedtoaskingandansweringquestions 2.Atleastweekly,askpeopletoshareaboutsuccessesorchallenges 3.MakesureyoumentionReplyAllcanbeusedtoshareinformationwith

everyone 4.Encouragepeopletohavegroupsoftwo

Conferences

1.TryopenspaceorClustering(Chapter9NetworkWeaverHandbook) 2.Participativeconferenceplanning:HaveAdobeConnectcallsopentoall

networkparticipants Platforms

1.TrainnetworkparticipantsaboutTwitterandScoop.it 2.SetupaFacebookGroupandhavesmallgroupdoproactivefacilitation

(askquestionsfrequentlytodrawoutpeople) 3.Havecommentsonwebpage

Self-organizedgroups

1.CoachcoordinatorstosetupandlearntouseGoogleDocsandvideoconferencing(AnyMeeting,ReadyTalk)

2.Showhowtosetupgroupemailforproject