Network weaving isn't just what you see

Weaving networks is not a soft skill.

When people think about network weaving, they often imagine:

✔ Making introductions.

✔ Talking about co-creation.

But it’s much more:

TIP: Get the Miro Template with the Weaving Iceberg here (It's free) & use it with your team to explore your perspectives on weaving.

Weaving is not just about connecting people.

It is a systemic strategy that:

• Strengthens trust.

• Bridges fragmented efforts.

• Makes collaboration work at scale.

So why do we still treat it as an afterthought?

Without weavers, networks collapse.

At their best, networks are more than just groups of people working in parallel.

They are living, breathing ecosystems that generate energy, sustain momentum, and adapt to change.

But networks don’t automatically function this way.

Without intentional weaving, they can quickly become:

❌ Disconnected: People and projects remain isolated.

❌ Chaotic: Efforts compete rather than align.

❌ Fragile: Networks exist in name only.

This is why network weavers are essential.

They are the ones who:

✔ Strengthen relationships so that trust can grow.

✔ Align efforts to make collaboration possible.

✔ Ensure knowledge and resources flow where they are needed most.

And yet, despite their critical role in holding networks together, most weavers remain undervalued, under-supported, and often completely overlooked.

Why weaving matters now

There are countless wicked problems we face today.

Think: climate crisis, systemic inequities, democratic erosion, etc. — are not isolated problems.

They are deeply interconnected, systemic, and constantly evolving.

No single organization, institution, or movement has the capacity to address them alone.

Yet, despite this reality, most change efforts remain siloed.

• Resources don’t flow where they are needed.

• Knowledge isn’t shared across sectors.

• Change moves slower than it could.

Silos are a barrier to systemic change

Think about it:

🌱 A regenerative agriculture movement working on food sovereignty might not be connected to climate adaptation initiatives, even though they are tackling the same root issues.

⚖️ Racial justice organizers fighting for economic equity may struggle to access philanthropic funding, which remains locked in traditional top-down grantmaking models.

🏛 Democracy reform groups trying to build participatory governance may lack relationships with social movements mobilizing on the ground, limiting their impact.

These disconnects slow down change, limit the potential of changemakers, and reinforce the very systems we are trying to transform.

This is why network weaving is NOT just a “nice to have.”

Weaving Is Critical for Systems Transformation

Network weaving is the practice of intentionally connecting people, ideas, and resources to catalyze change.

It is what turns fragmented efforts into collective power.

By strengthening relationships and bridging across silos, weaving enables:

✅ Resources flow.

✅ Knowledge circulates.

✅ Collaborative innovation scales.

When networks are well-woven, they become more adaptive, resilient, and powerful.

Instead of competition and fragmentation, weaving enables cooperation and shared leadership.

This is how we move beyond isolated projects and towards lasting, systemic transformation.

What Weavers Really Do (But No One Sees)

Without intentional weaving, networks stagnate.

Here’s what skilled weavers do that often goes unnoticed:

The following four capacity areas have been co-developed in the Weaving Lab over 7+ years of action research.

And, we'll soon release the Network Weaver Game, so you can reflect on your current and future weaving capacities! (Stay tuned)

🕸️ Cultivating Relationships

Trust is the foundation of collaboration.

Without strong relationships, networks remain transactional, and efforts collapse.

A strong network isn’t just about who is involved—it’s about how well they are connected.

Weavers strengthen deep connections by:

🔥 Collaborating Systemically

Many collaborations fail because they rely on rigid hierarchies and centralized decision-making.

They support networks to identify root causes, feedback loops & leverage points in complex systems.

And, co-design strategies to create deep systemic change.

Weavers design self-organizing structures through:

🗣️ Learning Together

No single organization or individual has the answers to complex, systemic challenges.

Instead of forcing solutions, they help networks become more adaptive over time.

Weavers create cultures of continuous learning by:

🌳 Embodying Well-Being

Sustaining deep collaboration isn’t just an intellectual challenge.

It’s a relational and emotional one.

Without this, networks burn out instead of creating lasting impact.

Weavers embed personal, collective and planetary well-being into networks by:

5 Tips on Messaging Your Work as a Network Weaver

Many weavers struggle to communicate why their work matters.

Because weaving is often behind-the-scenes, relational, and systemic, it’s easy for funders, partners, and even colleagues to overlook its impact.

Because great weavers:

• Embody humility.

• Work behind the scenes.

• Shift energy without claiming credit.

This means that, ironically, the better a weaver is at their work, the less visible they often become.

And because weaving is rarely formally resourced or seen as a "job," many weavers:

💔 Do this work unpaid.

💔 Burn out from carrying too much alone.

💔 Struggle to secure the funding and recognition

It can be painful.

I've been there.

Let's dive into how to message your work more clearly, so it’s valued, funded, and seen as essential:

1. Shift from "invisible work" to "essential strategy"

Instead of saying: "I build connections."

✅ Try: "I design strategies that align efforts, strengthen relationships, and make networks work at scale."

Why? People fund and support strategy, not just relationship-building. Position your work as a key system function, not just a support role.

2. Make the impact tangible

Instead of saying: "I bring people together."

✅ Try: "Last year, I facilitated cross-sector collaboration that led to $500K in shared funding and three new joint initiatives."

Why? Decision-makers and funders need clear outcomes to understand the value of weaving. Use data, stories, and real-world examples.

3. Name the cost of NOT weaving

Instead of saying: "We need to invest in network weaving."

✅ Try: "Without intentional weaving, networks become fragmented, resources don’t flow, and change efforts slow down or fail."

Why? People respond to urgency. Show what happens when weaving is missing—silos, burnout, duplication of efforts, wasted resources.

4. Align your messaging with funding priorities

Instead of saying: "I help networks collaborate."

✅ Try: "I strengthen collective impact by ensuring networks are well-connected, well-resourced, and aligned toward shared goals."

Why? Funders want to know how your work supports their priorities—whether that’s systems change, impact measurement, or resource efficiency.

5. Own your leadership

Instead of saying "I support networks in building relationships."

✅ Try: "I co-create the design of collaborative systems that enable networks to sustain themselves and scale their impact."

Why? Many weavers downplay their role. Your work is not just "support"—it is catalyzing the future of collaboration.

Final Thought: Weaving is Not a Side Role

If we want network weaving to be recognized, resourced, and taken seriously, we must speak about it as the critical function it is.

The present and future are networked.

We can no longer afford to treat weaving as an afterthought—it must be an intentional strategy.

Because in a world where challenges are increasingly interconnected...

We need more weavers to co-create systemic change.

Let’s Talk:

• How do you message your weaving work?

• Any tips for other weavers?

Respond to the email & let me know!

That's it!

PS: Get the Miro Template with the Weaving Iceberg here (It's free) & use it with your team to explore more weaving practices.

More to Explore This Week

About the Systemic Shift Newsletter

This weekly newsletter is dedicated to exploring practices, mindsets, and strategies that make networks effective in driving systemic change. Each issue offers practical tools, real-world lessons, and curated opportunities to help you build impactful, collaborative networks & communities.

Stay tuned next Tuesday for more!

About the Author

Adrian builds the capacity of impact networks & regenerative leaders to amplify systemic change. He is supporting impact network practitioners to weave the ecology of their life's work and engage in impact networks more fully.