New Resources for Assessing and Strengthening Network Health
Healthy relationships can create incredible power. As the saying goes, “Two heads are better than one.” Now, as part of the Minnesota Food Charter Network, we all get to think about how hundreds of people engaged in thousands of overlapping relationships are working as a whole to create a strong, supportive network. Together and statewide, our goal is to create a Minnesota where everyone has reliable access to healthy, safe, and affordable food in the places they work, learn, live, and play.
As with relationships, networks require work, as well as reflection now and then about if we’re accomplishing what we want in the healthiest way possible. That’s why over the last 6 months, we have developed and started to pilot a set of resources to assess and strengthen the Minnesota Food Charter Network as well as provide resources for Action Teams and local and regional networks to do the same.
Do you want to know how you are doing in building connections and trust with other members of your team or network? Check out the Individual Network Participant Self-Assessment Tool.
Do you want to use the Team Health Scorecard to see if you are high performing or if some of your teamwork could be strengthened?
Or does your local network want to assess its health? Check out the Network Health Scorecard. along with its instructions.
In fact, if you visit our Resources for Assessing and Strengthening Network Health page, you’ll find scorecards, guides, and articles on how to assess and improve your networking ability as well as that of your team or network.
Here is just what a few people have told us during the pilot stage:
- “We learned we want to better figure out how to keep members accountable for what they agreed to do.”
- “I learned lots and plan to make more time to read and practice use of network theory.”
- “I like the idea of using the self-assessment to coach other network leaders.”
After you’ve used the resources, we would also like your feedback. Feel free to share your impressions by emailing me at michael.dahl@mnfoodcharter.com