Module 07: Value adding through Networks (M7-EN)

After studying this module, you will understand which competences you should have (or have trained to have) to be a good networker on a personal level. This will give you valuable transferrable skills to be used as follows:

• To know which organisational skills you need to establish or participate in networks
• To understand the various types of networks
• To learn about networks and how they work with regional development concepts.

This training module is designed to fit the training needs of the monks and nuns, management, staff and volunteers at European monasteries, no matter if they are run by their Catholic or Protestant Orders or Orthodox Church, by public or private operators. Specifically, the module targets those who have production activities, who are active in and for monastic product shops, directly linked to local providers, stakeholders with vested interest, and supporting volunteers.

All modules are relevant for these groups of people, but some have a more specific character. They are all interconnected, even if they are not formally complementary. They differ in terms of information and competence level and address three groups:

• Target group 1: For people working on the implementation level like those in monastery shops three modules are recommended: Module 1 as introduction to the training, Modules 3 and 4 about monastic products and authentic selling of monastic products. People who want to start considering certain strategic aspects may be inspired by Module 7 on adding value through networking.
• Target group 2: For people with a special knowledge or experiences or a certain background and/or specified tasks in the monastic management, Modules 2 on marketing strategies, Module 5 on distribution strategies,  Module 8 on creating a strong brand, and Module 6 on social media and communication offer learning content and reflection.
• Target group 3: People on a strategy decision level with a highly specialized / experienced background and respective responsibilities in a monastery (Modules 9 on financing strategies and Module 10 on sustainability aspects).

After this unit you will

• Understand your own networking abilities and which ones you need to enhance;
• Be aware of the importance of networking for your organisation and for the people in it;
• Know key skills for networking;
• Understand the various types of networks and their values to your organisation;
• Have learned about good practice and why it is important.

SKIVRE focuses on an interactive training approach, whether you use it as a self-learning course or instructed by a trainer. This training module includes:

• Individualized self-learning - a powerful learning method that enables each learner, on the basis of his/her own experience and knowledge, and on the basis of newly acquired knowledge, to reach development decisions on his/her own;
• Self-assessment - ongoing self-assessment tests or homework that learners send to their trainer prior to the commencement of each subsequent module;
• You might also work in small groups of 2 or 3, e.g. if you decide to implement this module with colleagues as a self-learning group in your monastery or supported by an external trainer.

You gain knowledge individually or in a group using:

• Training material like this module;
• Training material in nine other SKIVRE training modules which are closely linked to this module;
• The interactive SKIVRE online training platform: skivre.eu/training;
• Facilitated training sessions for learning in a group with a professional trainer.

Study Materials

Author/s:

Jennie Hawks

Lilian Grootswagers

Institution:

Future for Religious Heritage, Belgium