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From Networking to Weaving
3 Shifts from ego- to eco-systems
𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱.
But they come from different paradigms, as Christina Capra points out in this great article.
𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 is rooted in a transactional mindset:
It asks:
What can I gain?
How do I give to get?
Who can you help me?
It often operates within an individualistic frame.
𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 is a systemic practice:
It asks:
How do we nurture relationships to enable equity & regeneration?
It centers:
Trust
Collaboration
Shared purpose
To be clear:
We all have needs.
So, networking still has its place.
But to face complex problems, we need to move from ego-systems to 𝗲𝗰𝗼-𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀.
To bring the point home, here is a side-by-side comparison of the practices:
Networking (Ego focus) | Network Weaving (Eco focus) |
Meeting people for transactional benefit. | Build authentic, caring relationships. |
Focus is on personal advancement. | Focus on a collective mission and impact. |
Contacts are siloed. | Create multidirectional, group-linked bonds. |
Accumulating names and business cards. | Cultivate supportive collaboration ecosystems. |
Short-term gain. | Foster long-term, mutual growth. |
Getting seen by people. | Creating space for everyone to contribute. |
Information sharing. | Facilitate co-creation and communal evolution. |
Career-oriented. | Systemic change-oriented. |
After this quick overview, let’s have a look at how to move from networking to weaving.
Here are 3 strategic shifts
1️⃣ 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 → 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀
Instead of asking:
𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵?
try
𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 co-create 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩?
This shift invites
Listening
Slowness
Reciprocity
Relationships aren’t a means to an end.
2️⃣ 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 → 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Networking asks:
What can I give to get?
Weaving asks:
How we can combine our strengths?
This shift unlocks:
Synergy
Emergence
Shared power
All these are vital for co-creation.
3️⃣ 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 → 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲
Networking often focuses on:
Reach
Status
Visibility
Network weaving aims at:
Tending trust
Sensing energy
Bridging difference
It’s about creating 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 for change.
And, this matters because the biggest breakthroughs won’t come from heroic individuals.
They will emerge from 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
By the way:
In case you want to build your network weaving skills you can play the Network Weaver Game, a 15 min. self-reflection process to identify your learning goals.
After the self-reflection, you get access curated resources, tools and programs to flex your co-creation muscles with the Network Weaving Self-Study Guide.
It’s all free to use.
That’s it!
In community,
Adrian
PS: Thanks for reading! ❤️ If you have questions or suggestions, I am just one email away!
Tactics, Tips & Tools for Systemic Change
This weekly newsletter offers practical tools, real-world lessons, and curated opportunities to help you weave impact networks.
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