This handbook provides guidance for individuals looking to build and catalyze networks between organizations and communities. It covers topics such as understanding network roles and structures, mapping networks, connecting people, moving networks to action, and scaling networks. The handbook uses case studies and worksheets to explain network concepts and strategies that network catalysts can use to strengthen inter-organizational collaboration and community impact. The goal is to equip network weavers with tools and processes for transforming networks and spreading successes more broadly.

1. Network Weaver Handbook
A Guide to Transformational Networks
June Holley, Network Weaver
june@networkweaving.com
www.networkweaving.com
740-591-4705

2. Table of Contents
Introduction
Handbook purpose: This handbook is for people who are interested
in building healthy inter-organizational or community networks.
Define NW
Why networks are so important
Concepts
How to use this Handbook
Using social media to build networks
Part 1. Preparing
Chapter I. Becoming a Network Catalyst
Section 1. Network Catalysts - work on yourself

3. What do Network Catalyst Do?
Finding other Catalysts - Network catalysts don't work alone
Being Intentional about your network
How do you work together?
Social media for Network Catalysts
Picture showing section 1 and 2 not linear could start either way
Section 2. Getting Started: What do you need to know to get started?
What does a Catalyst need to know About Networks
Creating a Network Mindset: Mapping your personal network
Social media: Using simple web-based mapping tools
What network?
Section 3. What is Your Strategy to Catalyze Your Network?
What network do you want to understand?
What are ways to make sense of it?
Introducing network building processes
What will be your approach?
What will be your role?
Who will you work with?
Social media: basic platforms to support first steps
Network Concepts
Chapter 2. Catalyzing the Network
Section 1. How to Introduce A Network Approach

4. Section 2. Basic Network Concepts
Introducing Network Concepts
What Is a Network?
Case Studies: Will have parts of case studies of six networks: community/econ
development, advocacy, learning network, policy network, international network,
etc
Section 2: Network Benefits
Why Networks?
Why Networks?2
When A Network Lens Is Useful
Section 3. Organizations, Networks and Communities
Organization ~ Network
Combining Organizational & Network Approaches
Social media: platforms to consider
Section 4. Helping Your Network Decide to Go Forward
Conversations with Key Individuals
Exploration Time at Meetings
Social Media
Part 2. Implementing

5. Chapter 3. Understanding and Visualizing Your
Network
Section 1: Simple Network Mapping
A Map Drawing Activity
Map Drawing Activity 2
Social media: platforms for web-based sharing of maps
Section 2: Using Social Network Mapping Software
Types of software
Making a Decision to Use Software
Steps in the Mapping/Analysis Process
Section 3: Analysis of Network Characteristics
Analyzing Your Network Map
Analyzing Your Network Map Worksheets
Steps to a Healthier Network Map
Assessing Your Network Checklist
Network Weaving Actions
Chapter 4. Connecting People to Increase
the Effectiveness of Your Network
Section 1. What is a Network Weaver?
Network Weaver Checklist

6. Network Weaver Strategies
Section 2. Listening to Connect
Listening Practice
How to Keep Track
Section 3. Closing Triangles
Closing Triangles Diagram
Closing Triangles Activity
Section 4. Adding to the Periphery
Expanding the Periphery Worksheet
Section 5.Connecting Clusters
Section 6. More Basic Network Weaver Microprocesses
Appreciation
Questions that Make a Difference
Accurate Assessment
Noticing
Chapter 5. Moving Your Networks to Action
Section 1. Understanding Self-organizing

7. Chart: Examples of self-organizing
Checklist for Our Network: what do we want to do?
Section 2. Train Network Weavers in Generating Action
Opportunity Process Worksheet
Project Management Worksheet
Social Media: Setting up a web-based project management site.
Section 2. Coaching Project Coordinators
What Do Project Coordinators Need to Think About?
Training Project Coordinators
Self-organized Project Coordinator Role
Social media: platforms to use in coaching Project Coordinators
Section 3. Build skills that lead to Breakthroughs
Questions to Ask That Lead to Reflection
Simple reflection processes
Part 3. Designing and Defining
Chapter 6. Networks Make a Difference
Section 1. Identifying Network Characteristics

8. Checklists and Worksheets:
Geography (local to international)
Function (Catalytic, Action, Learning, and Policy)
Content (Environmental, economic, education, health, etc)
Type (intra-organizational, inter-organizational, volunteer, friendship/family,
community)
Organization (unstructured to formal coalition)
Interaction mode (face to face, mobile, web)
Section 2. How to Apply Network Strategies for Increasing Impact
Movement building ~ conflict transformation
Self-organizing: Crowdsourcing, Flash collaboration,
Innovation
Social media ecosystems
Chapter 7. Network Support Structure and Roles
Section 1. Network Roles
Network Weaver Checklist with Roles
The Network Guardian Role
Network Facilitators
Section 2. Network Structure
How Your Organization or Initiative Can Make the Most of a Network Approach
Deciding on the Most Effective Structure for Your Network

9. Section 3. Network Culture
Network Values
Framing Network values
Simple steps in creating a network culture
Section 4. Network Support
Setting Up An Innovation Fund
Networking Hubs
Network Values
Setting Up a Network Weaver Training and Support System
Using Social Media
Section 5. Network Evaluation and Indicators
How do we evaluate whether networks are effective?
How do we know if our network development efforts are on track?
Part 4. Transforming & Spreading
Success
Chapter 8. How Change Happens in Networks
Section 1. From Innovation Diffusion to Transformation
Theories of Change: new research on the role of networks, self-organizing
and metacognition

10. Checklist for Our Network
Strategies for Transformation
Section 2. From Conflict to Complementarity and Metacognition
Changing perspectives about difference and conflict
Chart on complementarities
Creating resonance
Basics processes for metacognition
Section 3. Influence in networks
From influence to influenceability to collaborative mindfulness
The role of individuals and collaborative projects in influence
Section 4. Social media and transformation
Chapter 9. Catalyzing More Network Weavers
Section 1. Why More Network Weavers?
Understanding the importance of having many Network Weavers
Identifying natural Network Weavers
Section 2. Coach, Train and Network Network Weavers
15 Steps to Incubate Network Weavers.
Outline for Training Network Weavers

11. Coaching Activities
Set up peer support networks
Section 3. Help Network Weavers be More Effective
Freeing Up Time for Transformation
Tracking Priorities
What brain research says about effectiveness
Personal work: mindfulness training
Section 4. Using social media to train, coach and set up
peer support
Chapter 10. Moving Networks to Scale:
Rhizomatic Pathways
Section 1. How can networks help successes spread and
expand?
What are rhizomatic pathways?
Chart on rhizomatic pathways to increase scale
10 steps to increase spread of success
Social Media creates rhizomatic pathways
Section 2. Creating Learning/Expansion Networks with Other
Communities
Steps to creating a learning network

12. Coaching and facilitating a learning network
Networking networks
Part 5. Focusing and Deepening
Chapter 11. Network Case Studies and Specific
Strategies
Section 1. Economic and Community Innovation Networks
Case Study
Specific lessons from the field
Section 2. Networks in Healthcare
Section 3. Policy and Advocacy Networks
Case Studies
How network strategies differ from coalition strategies
Section 4. Foundations and Networks
Section 5. Networks of networks

13. Part 6. Reflecting into the Future
Chapter 12. Reflection and Next Steps
Reflection Worksheet
Network Weaver Peer Learning Cluster
Network Weaver Advanced Training
Network Weaver Coaching Certification
Appendix 1. Glossary of Network Terms
Appendix 2. Bibliography
Appendix 3. Building Networks Article