1. Becoming a Successful
Community Weaver
Lisa Colton Darim Online July 19, 2012

2. AGENDA
• Refresher: Fortress vs Sponge
• Network Basics
• What is a Network Weaver?
• Skills and Activities of Weavers
• Shifting Job Responsibilities & Descriptions
• Discussion Q&A

3. NETWORK WEAVERS
June Holley’s Definition: A Network
Weaver is someone who is aware of
the networks around them and
explicitly works to make them healthier
(more inclusive, bridging divides).
Network Weavers do this by
connecting people strategically where
there’s potential for mutual benefit,
helping people identify their passions,
and serving as a catalyst for self-
organizing groups.

4. As A Network Weaver
• You help people see opportunities
• Support initiation of collaborative projects
• You coach and support
• You help them notice what works
• You encourage them to spread the
patterns of success and scale
• You help deepen the quality of
relationships
• Your help people learn to work in
networked ways

5. Fortress: Insiders in, Outsiders out

6. Sponges: Transparency & Constant Flow In and Out

7. Traditional Mindset: Hub & Spokes

8. Network Mindset
“connect and collaborate” rather than “command and control”

9. 7 Steps to Network Weaving
1. Shift in leadership mindset
2. Know your network
3. Socialize
4. Listen and Engage
5. Connect
6. Strengthen Network Systems
7. Evolve Your Role as the Network Matures

10. 1. Network Leadership
Organizational Leadership Network Leadership
Position, authority Role, behavior
Few leaders Everyone is a leader
Leader broadcasts Leader engages
Leader controls Leader facilitates and supports
Top down Bottom Up
Planning Innovation & Experimentation
Provides service Supports self-organization
Adapted from June Holley’s Network Weaving Handbook, pg 29

11. Sharing and giving
Value errors
Allowing for
and mistakes
emergence, surprises,
experiments
Transparency
Listening
Valuing diversity
and inclusiveness
Not putting
people into boxes Permeable boundaries

12. 2. Mapping Networks
know the net -- see
the map of how
things really work
knit the net --
adjust the network
for improvements
Mapping can
illuminate key
opportunities
for action and
investment
http://ccc.georgkolb.com/

13. 3. SOCIALIZE
Temple Beth
Abraham in
Tarrytown, NY

14. AS YOU
SOCIALIZE:
BE YOUR
TRUE SELF!

15. 4. Listening & Engaging
You have to BE
IN the conversation.
Rabbi Danny
Burkeman on Twitter
(@Rabbi_Danny)
shares his
professional
activities, reflections,
thought leadership,
hobbies and more in
conversation with his
local community and
beyond.

16. BE GENEROUS

17. 5. Make
Connections

18. And ... Increasing
Connectivity
• New audiences
bring new ideas
• Flow leads to
health
• Leave room for
adjustments and
the unexpected
• Rethink
“ownership”
#JED21 led to #JEDchat

19. 6. Communication
is Everything

20. 7 . Plan (or allow) for Emergence

21. Na’aseh v’nishmah

22. Benefits of Strong Networks
• More efficient use of staff time
• Regenerative, constant flow
• Sustaining energy
• Responsive
• Focus on people and community
• Cultivate appreciation for “host”

23. Network Weaver Roles
Connector Catalyst Network Guardian
Connects people. Helps put in place systems for
Gets network building started. networks: communications,
Build social culture. training, support, etc.
Self-Organized Network Facilitator
Project Coordinator
Helps convene people to set up a
Helps coordinate more explicit and focused
self-organized projects. network.

24. Don’t Have All The Answers:
Over-functioning leadership disempowers networks

25. Thrive By Working Together

26. Chris Brogan
• Spend 20 minutes a day
observing your network.
• Spend 10 minutes a day
cultivating new relationships.
• Use an organized contact
management system to
manage relationships, not just
keep contact info.
• Deliver two to three times as
much value as you ask from
your network. This keeps
people eager to be helpful
when the time comes that you
need them.

27. Beth Kanter
• Make it personal. Ask for their stories,
their input, their thoughts. Emphasize their
importance to the community and allow
them to run with projects and to be creative
Everyone wants to contribute and to make
something better/leave a lasting mark.
• Humanize your leaders. Make them
available. If the members feel like the
community is very hierarchical they may never feel like they belong on
the “inside”. Use your position to energize your community.
• Play matchmaker. The leaders in the community should focus on
putting people together with like ideas, interests etc. help them bridge
the social interaction gap.

28. Job Descriptions
Program Staff
Social Media
Managers
Community
Managers
Network Weavers

29. Network Weaving Handbook
Facebook group discussion:
http://bit.ly/networkweaving
Follow June Holley’s Work
on Network Weaving

30. Catalyzing Networks for Social Change,
Monitor Institute, pg 15

31. Next Session
July 31, 2012 1-2pm eastern
Mobile Strategies
Continue the discussion on our
Facebook Group:
http://on.fb.me/urjbootcamp