FAQ+-+What+competencies+do+network+leaders+need?

The Leadership Learning Community (LLC) is conducting a collaborative research project (see Leadership for a New Era) to better understand leadership in networks. Network leadership is a vast field that draws on a rich and diverse history and sources, like negotiations, multi-stakeholder engagement, and innovation. While there is no definitive list of talents needed, the following competencies were identified by the LLC’s research:
 * //Self-awareness //. Reflecting on who you are as a leader and your influence on communities. Seasoned community organizer Bill Traynor writes that network leaders need to reflect on “how they move through the world. How you exhibit fear, react to change, deal with letting go of power and ego. How you listen and observe and the keenness of your instincts for both conceptualizing and synthesizing. How you hold on to or let go of strongly held convictions about what is right and what will work.”
 * //Connecting //. Creating social capital by making new connections and developing stronger trusted relationships.
 * //Bridging. // Dedicating time and resources to reaching out to others and making connections across silos to ensure a diversity of experience and perspectives.
 * //Using network strategies and tools to organize //. Using social media tools and network strategies to help network participants get involved in and coordinate large-scale social change efforts.
 * //Experimenting and learning //. Taking an action learning approach where plans emerge and action is adapted in response to trying out different ideas and approaches.
 * //Systems thinking //. Developing a shared understanding of how multiple factors interact to influence a system and identifying leverage points for making progress on complex social problems.