Reciprocity, questioning and complaining: the all powerful VM network

Well done to all those who contributed to last week's Thoughtful Thursday tweet chat, there were some fantastic suggestions coming through on the twitter feed which we can all benefit from reflecting on. See my earlier post on advice for new volunteer managers for background to this, including a summary of the top tips.

I think one of the most noticeable comments was about the importance of the networks and feeling part of something. The word networking is perhaps over-used in our sector and too often it can be seen as an excuse for having a moan - which is all very well. I mean, sometimes you need to off-load and sharing that stuff with other people who actually understand where you're coming from can be incredibly useful in the short term. The challenge is to convert those grumbles into something positive and this is where I believe we underestimate the power of the 'getting together' aspect of our roles. Whether it be face to face or via the various virtual methods currently provided to us, in a way, there's no excuse for not being connected as a manager of volunteers. And, through that we can support one another to achieve our goals, and indeed perhaps most importantly - feel better and more focused about what we're doing and where we're heading as individuals and as a profession.

It's significant that often when I deliver training sessions, participants will comment that the most useful part of the day has been 'the networking'. (I am confident enough these days in the quality of my work to know that this isn't necessarily a slight on the content delivered, but an acknowledgement of how important it is for managers of volunteers to meet up with others in their field). However, I often wonder what people mean by this, and how will they make sure they follow up on any actions or intentions from that day.

So, for this week's Thoughtful Thursday tweet chat, we're asking you to share your networking tips and to consider what we should really be aiming for when we say we're "here for the networking" as managers of volunteers. What have you gained from networking with other VMs, and how can we use the networks to further raise the profile of the profession? As usual, you can share your suggestions via twitter using the hash tag #ttvolmgrs, or you can use the comments section here to add your thoughts in more than 140 characters.

As I'm out and about tomorrow and will be temporarily without a smartphone (!!!), I'd like to take this opportunity to get things started with my own musings here:
- Networking is a key skill - it requires thought and practice.
- Networking should be reciprocal - think about what you have to offer, as well as what you can gain (not necessarily every time, but in general).
- Through networking we can support oneanother, not just by listening and understanding, but also by asking insightful questions about our work, and by challenging our perceptions and approach.

Let's take this opportunity to really understand what we mean by networking and what we need from it, in order to make the most of this valuable resource.