Note From Beth: The power of observation is key to learning and perfecting any practice or skill.    Observation is not just scanning or browsing, but looking at another organization's practice with a critical thinking lens and gaining insights.    Along with benchmarking - that is comparing your organization's numbers with an industry average or simply another similar organization or two is great.   But if you want to get even deeper insights, do an in-depth review of a similar … [Read more...]

Note From Beth: A few weeks ago,  I was lucky enough to participate in a meeting with other capacity builders who work with networks.    I wrote a quick reflection on some of the techniques used to facilitate the meeting.   This convening of ”network practitioners”  (consultants and others who are working with or networks of people and organizations on social change goals) took place at the Packard Foundation and designed and facilitated by consultants Gigi Barsoum and Heather Grant-McLeod.   … [Read more...]

How do you measure your network to learn how to improve outcomes?   That was one of many questions raised at during a Twitter Chat last week around the #sm_re hashtag.     The chat was a prelude to a convening on April 25th at the Robert Wood Johnston Foundation of  40 thinkers and practitioners, bringing diverse perspectives and expertise into discussions to develop measures for evaluating the impact of social media on philanthropic outcomes.   I'll be participating in the session, as part of … [Read more...]