Virtual Facilitation Practice

A safe space for connection and experiential learning

Network Pattern Cards

How the patterns you chose shape your life

What are your favorite social circles?
Do you often run with a pack (cohesive clique), find yourself in-between groups (boundary spanners), in the center or on the fringes of a circle (hub and spoke network)?

How we organize our social and work networks follows patterns that are surprisingly consistent over time. Different people have different favorites they recreate as their move through life. And each of these patterns has its own dynamics, risks and benefits.

Based on years of mapping social networks and coaching people towards more intentional engagement patterns, Eva developed the Network Pattern Cards (a physical card deck and virtual equivalent) as a facilitation and coaching tool. They show 14 patterns she saw emerge repeatedly, in networks across the globe.

In this session you will play with the cards to:

• Learn to identify and name these network patterns, understanding their distinct strengths and risks
• Better understand situations from your own life that feel like they happen over and over again (with different faces)
• Retell your stories along these network patterns to gain a deeper understanding of the pain and joy of your network dynamics
• Become more intentional in how you engage in work and social circles, leaning more deeply into the benefits and preparing for the risks of your network patterns
• Learn a tool you can use in your facilitation or coaching work

This session is designed for facilitators, organizational change experts and coaches who want to better understand their own engagement patterns and learn a tool they can use with their teams and clients. After a brief presentation, participants will have time for silent reflection, small group conversation and a large group debrief.

🤔 In Preparation

To prepare for our time together, we invite you to reflect on the different ways you like to work and play with others. If you had to draw your work and personal networks as a pattern of circles and lines, what would it look like?