A network that achieves shared power has greater potential for shared action with high impact. Everyone is involved and everyone pulls the same direction. Highly effective networks shift their power dynamics from a hierarchical model to a shared model.
We had a chance to sit down with community leader, Gina Weekley, to talk about her experience within network leadership, how power is shared and how decision making can play a role in sharing power.
Read MoreSWIM recently partnered with the Iowa Council of Foundations (ICoF) to conduct a Racial Equity Cohort. This experience encouraged ICoF members to take a deep dive on their roles and practices surrounding racial equity. The cohort was co-facilitated by Stacy Van Gorp and SWIM collaborator, Sharina Sallis. After the cohort was complete, Sharina took some time to share with us her perspective on philanthropy and how funders can evaluate their own practices as they relate to racial equity and justice.
Read MoreMost organizations—new and old—are dominated by questions like: What’s broken, missing or possible and how can we fix it/change it/do it? Who are we? What is our purpose? And what should we do?
In other words: What should we…. Do-Be-Do-Be-Do!?!
Read MoreOfferings - workshops, communities of practice, webinars, toolkits, and research briefs - are the heart of how network hubs (like associations or network HQs) influence their members. In our new publication with partnership with the Iowa Council of Foundations (ICoF) “From Implicit to Explicit: Lessons for supporting funders in advancing racial equity in philanthropy,” we move from discussing single offerings to thinking about a more strategic approach: delivering interwoven offerings over time to generate momentum of network adoption.
Read MoreWe’ve heard again and again that advancing racial equity in an organization is a journey. We agree. But, what’s that really mean in practice? At the Iowa Council of Foundations it meant a great deal of intentionality and a five year time frame.
Read MoreEveryone on the See What I Mean team has seen at least a handful of my plants on camera during our zoom calls. Total I have at least 45 plants (it’s been a while since I’ve counted). My interest in botany has been growing for the past 6 years when I was a summer intern at a local botanical garden during my time in undergrad. Since then, my collection has grown, more extensively during the start of the pandemic like many others. I bought a few plants right before embarking on the remote work lifestyle and just couldn’t stop. Here are a few things that I’ve learned along my plant journey that I believe we all can benefit from as well.
Read MoreAdd See What I Mean to the chorus of voices encouraging change in philanthropy. So many institutions adjusted approaches during the pandemic and many of those changes would be excellent to make permanent. Here’s a quick list of ways we can improve the grantmaking process.
Read MoreWhen you have a new idea, the likelihood that it will create the effect that you're hoping for is pretty small. This is especially true in the social sector where we're trying to solve the most wicked and complex problems faced by our community: food insecurity, racial Injustice, educational attainment, stopping violence and abuse. Rather than spending weeks, months or years designing a perfect program, figure out the essence of what you want to do.
Read MoreWe’re heartened to see that so many organizations have leaned into participatory leadership. Participatory leadership means recognizing the value in asking many people for advice, input, ideas, and problem-solving. This can raise new ideas and garner early buy-in.
Read MoreWhen I was a new executive director, I would frequently keep a piece of scratch paper next to my desk where I would jot the items I wanted to talk about at the upcoming board meeting. It looked a lot like the grocery list I kept in my kitchen at home…
Read MoreMy last day of working in an in-person office setting was March 17th, 2020. Since then, I have perfected my work-from-home routine. My corner is set up with perfect lighting and a comfortable chair. My Nespresso machine is on a daily timer so I have delicious coffee right before my morning meetings. I’ve gotten so used to my WFH (work-from-home) routine that I forgot in-person meetings existed until I was asked to join a business trip to conduct in-person training.
Read MoreI am on the old edge of Millennial. That edge people like Pete Buttigieg hang on to in order to keep their street cred with young people, but still be old enough to run for president. Sometimes I shy away from being labeled “Millennial,” but I am finding that I am actually proud of some of the traits other generations hold against us. One of those traits is demanding a better work-life balance. Millennials aren’t the only ones looking for a work-life balance. In fact, a study by LinkedIn showed that nearly half of American workers would pass up a better job for more work-life balance. That sure isn’t the message I hear from the field.
Read MoreWhen approaching new solutions, many of the organizations we work with are eager to create innovative solutions. They put in countless hours building new solutions from the ground up. Unfortunately, all too often they watch these programs and solutions slowly fizzle out as they fail to gain traction in their community and target populations. All of the surveying and data collection in the world cannot change the fact that many organizations are designing solutions that are not guided by the people with lived experience in the matter. We see this across industries and areas of focus. From food banks to health clinics and private schools to local governance; solutions that are not led by people with lived experience fail to consider the full needs, wants and cultural realities of the groups they are targeting.
Read MoreIt’s that time of year when the “new year new me” momentum is fading. We begin to forget our resolutions, move slower, and our productivity almost feels nonexistent. Whether it's our personal goals or work tasks, maintaining productivity can be difficult. In our See What I Mean team meeting, we took the time to share tips, tricks, or moments that have helped us stay productive and energized at work.
Read MoreAs the new year approaches, we and many others are beginning to embrace a new meeting style, hybrid meetings. For those of us who have been craving in-person interaction, hybrid meetings offer an opportunity for us to come together. They are an inclusive option demonstrating flexibility and often more attendance. Hybrid meetings are hard… in theory, they are great; but without the right tools, preparation and strategies they can be a recipe for disaster.
Read MoreEngaging voices from the field is a critical piece of any network leader’s work. At See What I Mean, we advocate establishing a clear feedback loop. The earlier in the process, the better. Too often, network leaders think of a feedback loop as following three steps: Ask → Analyze → Demonstrate. This approach misses a critical step in a transparent feedback loop: Ask → Analyze → Share back → Demonstrate.
Read MoreIt will come as no big surprise that complex networks of various sizes, demographics, purposes and needs do not fit a one-sized approach. You’ve heard this advice throughout your career and as a network leader, you’ve seen it in play. While we inherently know that one-size-fits-all solutions do not work, we struggle to understand the best ways to segment our networks.
Read MoreSometimes network structures are mistaken for associations or federations. Some shrug off the confusion, “What’s the difference...and who cares!” they might say. Isn’t “network” just another word for “organization”? Networks are hugely different from traditional organizations and the differences are enormously important to how well and powerfully we can work with others to accelerate and magnify important work. In my experience there are 5 “secrets” for how to enjoy a network experience and optimize the power of a great network while also taking pleasure in nobody “being the boss of me.”
Read MoreWeek-by-week, the See What I Mean team will be sharing all there is to know about networks; including the many lessons we’ve learned to build stronger and more connected groups. Watch SWIM Partners, Stacy Van Gorp and Jordan Vernoy discuss the Six Practices of Effective Network Leadership — what is it and why you need it.
Read MoreAfter periods of disruption organizations are ready to question their default settings in order to align their values with their actions. Learn how you can question those autopilot activities to better your mission.
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