Vision New England -

Being a Network Partner in the Strategic Leadership Network

 

Everything you always wanted to know

about being a Network Partner

but were too busy to ask

 

You are not alone! Nearly all Strategic Leadership Network Partners have questions about their responsibilities within this new Program. Just remember, your Network Fellow has few preconceptions about your relationship. Your personality, professional attitude and interest are all you need to succeed. So, let's start with the basics:

 

Understanding Your Network Fellow

Each Network Fellow is a personally invited participant, recruited because of his or her ministry expertise and reputation as a leader in the local church. Network Fellows like to think strategically about future plans and talk about them with other people. Network Fellows love the Lord are action-oriented decision makers, eager to explore and influence the next stages in their ministry development.

 

In simple words, Network Fellows are the ‘thinkers and talkers’, able and willing to give us strategic program and ministry direction recommendations.

 

Understanding Your Role as Network Partner

You are a Network Partner because you are in a unique position to influence or direct ministry program change. You know the importance of receiving real-world feedback on programs and ministry services. And you can help your Network Fellow because you have the organizational knowledge across Vision New England to get specially-tailored solutions to short-term strategic issues, if such an issue arises.

 

In simple words, Network Partners are the ‘listeners and do-ers.’ Network Partners help create the right mood to get the Network Fellows talking, and keep it going. And Network Partners typically go to Network Conferences with their Fellow(s).

 

Step One: Call your Network Fellow

You're busy and so is your Network Fellow. But a Network Partner/Fellow telephone call is just 5-10 minutes long.

 

But first, call and introduce yourself to the Network Advisor (you will get the Network Advisor’s name when you are assigned a Network Fellow). Get some basic, conversational information about the Network Fellow's church, and ensure it is okay to call the Network Fellow directly -- it almost always is! 

 

Now you're ready to call the Network Fellow. Here are some conversational pointers for that very first call:

* Introduce yourself, being sure to reference the Strategic Leadership Network. Tell your Network Fellow how much you are looking forward to working together.

* Ask the Network Fellow to describe his or her church situation.

* Explain what you do within Vision New England.

* Ask how things are going, and if there are any issues with Vision New England that you could address (if "yes," see  Step Three!)

* Tell your Network Fellow you will call again next month. And don't forget to exchange telephone numbers and email addresses.

 

 

Step Two: Call your Network Fellow Again

It's been about a month or so since your last call, and your Network Fellow may be feeling out of touch. Here are some conversation tips for those follow-on calls:

* Ask how things are going (see Step Three if the Network Fellow has an issue)

* Ask if the Network Fellow is going to the next Conference

            - remember, if the Network Fellow goes to a Conference, you should  join him/her.

* Ask if the Network Fellow would like additional information on anything. There almost always is!

* Tell your Network Fellow you will call again next month.

 

 

Step Three: Response to "An Issue"

All relationships have ups and downs. Your Network Fellow may admit there's something wrong; perhaps a program-specific problem, maybe an issue with Vision New England itself. Here's how you can help:

* Get as many details as possible. Based on your judgment, connect the Network Fellow with the person within Vision New England whom you think can help. Please give your Fellow the telephone number and/or e-mail address of that person who could help them. Then contact that Vision New England person and tell them to call your Fellow with an offer to help. In this way, nothing will “fall through the cracks”!!!

* If the situation is complex, involves multiple areas, etc., tell the Network Fellow you will arrange a conference call, bringing in the person(s) responsible, if necessary. Recruit the “people-who-know” that you need, brief them, and you then run the con-call.

* Regardless, please always follow through on commitments made to further help or guide the Network Fellow.

 

 

Step Four: Encourage Get-togethers

You may be able to see your Network Fellow at the Conferences; if the Network Fellow attends, so should you. But there are other opportunities to consider:

* Set up a Headquarters Visit. Invite the Network Fellow to meet with people and tour the facilities in Acton or Connecticut or New Hampshire -- whichever site is most suited to the Network Fellow's needs and/or interests.

* Offer to visit your Network Fellow's church.

 

 

 

That's It!

It's very simple, really. The on-going relationship you form with your Network Fellow is the single, most important component of the Strategic Leadership Network. Network Fellows are willing to tell us about their real-world experiences, and we turn that information into better programs and ministry services.

 

You and your Network Fellow have a lot to learn from each other. So relax, have fun. And call your Network Fellow!

 

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