[Host's Note: I asked "Maybe we could discuss how to make networking
successful in a local area? I know this is of interest to many."
Carol has been hosting a group that meets in Boston. ...Rick]
Thanks for asking. Networking for Knowledge (NFK) began on October 1996 in
the Boston area to test theories of knowledge creation and innovation.
People from several states attend our meetings. People from around the
world are on our mailing list and frequently correspond about networking
and NFK agenda items. Regardless of their backgrounds (which are quite
varied), participants list he following benefits of NFK: informal
exchange of ideas; a fresh way of looking at issues; relationship
building; exploration of collaborative projects, e.g. holding a
conference or writing for publication; sharing of business and other
opportunities. New ideas, alliances, friendships, business, and much more
have resulted from our meetings.
NFK has a strong theoretical base and operational procedures. Please see
the NFK page in the web-site http://www.dowtech.com/CLIIN/
We are learning all the time, from the process and the people. E.g. one
of our premises is.. "We either get used to thinking about the subtle
processes of learning and sharing knowledge in dispersed, transient
networks, or we perish," (Tom Peters, Crazy Times Call for Crazy
Organizations, 1994). At our last meeting, we grappled with. "Can a
transient group be anything else but a group that meets to share ideas?
Others ask, "Is it possible to build a cohesive group among people with
different expectations? "Some say, "Yes." Some say, "No." Some say, "Why
can't we do it all?"
Some lessons we have learned - so far:
(1) With different people coming to meetings all the time, consistent
sponsorship and philosophical underpinnings are very important. NFK is
sponsored by the Critical Linkages II Newsletter (CLIIN) which in itself
is a network that has been tested in other arenas for close to 5 years;
(2) Establish and follow ground rules. DeBono's Positive Thinking
Guidelines are part of our ground rules and (among other things) have
helped us move forward in sticky situations;
(3) Set expectations. E.G. "Grow/help others grow/continue to grow" has
been CLIIN's operative principle since our inception in 1994. NFK
participants note consistently that those who attend our meetings focusing
on what they might give or how they can help others grow and continue
their own growth as a result get much more from the process and form more
powerful alliances than those who come to the meetings looking only for
how they can grow or what they can get out of the meetings. Participants
feel there are lots of reasons for this, which I will be glad to share, if
there is interest.
(4) Successful networking is not a happening and you don't usually get a
2nd chance. For the many people who have contacted us asking for more
specific information about networking, CLIIN is now in the process of
publishing procedures. For those who have asked for help in setting up
similar networks in other states (or countries), CLIIN has a broad-based
membership. Contact us.
-- Carol Sager, Sager Educational Enterprises http://www.dowtech.com/CLIIN/ Critical Linkages II Newsletter 21 Wallis Road,Chestnut Hill, MA 02167 V.(617)469-9644; Fax(same)-9639Carol Sager <sagerent@world.std.com>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>