With David Ehrlichman and Amelia Pape – 7 April 2022
Summary
This Weaving Lab session provided a practical and theoretical framework for moving beyond “command and control” hierarchies toward vibrant, decentralized networks that can address complex global challenges.
The central theme was networks as webs of relationships where the strength of a network is determined by: i) the quality of the connections between its members and ii) the effectiveness of the information and resources flowing through those connections.
Key Learning Points
The 5Cs Framework
Successful impact networks engage in five interdependent activities:
1. Clarify purpose and principles.
2. Convene the right people.
3. Cultivate trust (the “invisible structure”).
4. Coordinate existing actions.
5. Collaborate for systemic change.
- The Shift from Hub-and-Spoke Many collaborations fail because they remain rigid “hub-and-spoke” systems (essentially a hierarchy in disguise). True impact networks must evolve into “multi-hub” systems where members self-organize without a single bottleneck.
- Gardening vs. Engineering Building a network is like cultivating a garden, not building a bridge. You cannot force growth or plan every detail; instead, you provide the “trellis” (minimum viable structure) and “nutrients” (resources/trust) to allow emergence.
- Trust is for Tension Trust isn’t just about liking people or agreeing with them. It’s the “social glue” that allows a group to hold through inevitable disagreements and stay together long enough to find common ground.
- Integrating Self-Interest A vibrant network acknowledges that members have both a “shared interest” (the collective purpose) and a “self-interest” (personal or organizational needs). For a network to be sustainable, it must serve both.
Key Action Points
- Practice “True Stories” Deepen trust by sharing pivotal moments from your life. Listen without interrupting to build empathetic, human connections that transcend professional titles.
- Engage in Rapid Coordination Regularly use “Offers and Requests” (e.g., in a one-breath, one-sentence format) to quickly match resources with needs across the community.
- Foster Network Leadership:Move away from telling people what to do. Instead, seek to connect, facilitate, and help others find where the energy is
- Scale “Out,” Not “Up Instead of trying to grow a single organization larger, focus on “scaling out” through new connections and collaborations with other networks.
- Identify Leverage Points Look for places where a small, coordinated action can create a large change across the entire system (inspired by Donella Meadows).
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References & Tools Mentioned
1 David Ehrlichman:Impact Networks: Create Connection, Spark Collaboration, and Catalyze Systemic Change*.
2 Converge Resources:
i) The Impact Networks Documentary: (18-minute and 4-minute versions via converge.net/film)
ii) Converge Toolkit: Free, open-source activities under Creative Commons.
3) Authors & Thinkers
i) June Holley & Valdis Krebs: Building Smart Communities through network weaving.
ii) Adrienne Maree Brown: Emergent Strategy (on who to convene).
iii) Donella Meadows: On Leverage points in a system.
iv) John Kotter: Dual Operating System (combining hierarchy and networks).
v) Elinor Ostrom: Governing the Commons.
vi) Rainer Maria Rilke:The poem “Let Everything Happen to You.”
4) Case Studies:
i) Sterling Network NYC, RE-AMP (Midwest carbon reduction)
ii) Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network.
Knowledge Bank Categories: 1) Weaving Methods, 2) Funding & Strategy
