Visible Us Blog
Want to learn about network science? Have a collaborative problem you need to tackle? The Visible Us Blog is our space for sharing stories, advice, and inspiration with our community. Subscribe to our newsletter on the left so you don’t miss any blog updates.
Who is the Best Person to Take My Network Survey?
Amanda Beacom
February 14, 2020
If you’ve ever designed a survey, you know that one of the most crucial steps is picking respondents. For a survey of members of an inter-organizational network, this step usually…
Managing Turf in a Network: Keeping it Under Control
Paige Backlund
February 5, 2020
This December, we surveyed more than 150 network leaders in our annual State of Networks Survey. The number of people mentioning “turf” as a daily problem in their collaborative work…
New to PARTNER: GIS Map Integration
Alex Derr
January 28, 2020
People have been asking us since we first created PARTNER for GIS mapping functionality. Today, we’re proud to share that you can map your networks geographically as a new feature…
Dr. Varda Recognized as One of Seven Chancellor’s Urban Engaged Scholars
Alex Derr
January 20, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Denver, CO (January 17, 2020) – Nearly one year ago, Chancellor Dorothy Horrell announced the first-ever TIAA Chancellor’s Urban Engaged Scholars. The seven faculty members—one from each school…
Better Communication in Networks: Four Research-Informed Tips
Alex Derr
January 13, 2020
In our 2019 Annual Network Survey, we found that network leaders consistently reported communication as their biggest obstacle. Maintaining communication between network members isn’t easy. Rather, it’s easy to stumble…
Quotes to Inspire Collaboration and Teamwork
Alex Derr
January 6, 2020
Collaboration isn’t easy – sometimes, a good quote can inspire us to keep working towards our common goals. Here are thirty quotes to inspire collaboration and teamwork that we’ve come…
Networks are Inclusive, Equitable and Diverse… Right?
Danielle Varda
December 16, 2019
This is the first follow-up to the introductory blog “Networks are the Answer…Right?“ by VNL’s CEO, Dr. Danielle Varda, exploring the question of whether we have pushed the limits of…
Create Bias-Free Surveys: Three Pitfalls to Avoid
Kyle Brees
December 2, 2019
Bias is pernicious: it creeps into all kinds of research, including surveys and social network analysis! The more bias you introduce into your survey, the less reliable and accurate your…
Networks are the Answer… Right?
Danielle Varda
November 19, 2019
While most of us think networks are the answer, it’s not always true. It’s okay to get a little overwhelmed by how over-networked we have become: I certainly do. That…
Why Most Network Maps Miss the Point
Alex Derr
November 6, 2019
Network maps are becoming more popular than ever, and it’s not surprising at all. People are realizing more than ever how much social connections matter and influence outcomes. Network maps…
Three Tips for Better Network Facilitation
Paige Backlund
November 4, 2019
Network Stuck? Get Unstuck with a Facilitator! One of the most important, yet overlooked roles in a network is that of a facilitator. A facilitator is a person that makes…
Using Network Analysis to Tell Your Network’s Story
Sara Sprong
October 28, 2019
Using data to enhance a network’s story highlights the impact of collaboration amongst community members sharing a common goal. Networks can use data to demonstrate to partners, stakeholders, and funders…
Meet our New Research Analyst: Kyle Brees!
Kyle Brees
October 16, 2019
This month we welcomed two new staffers to our Projects Team! This week we spoke with the second of our two new team members, Kyle Brees, our new Research Analyst! …
Meet our new Network Scientist: Dr. Amanda Beacom!
Amanda Beacom
October 11, 2019
This month we welcomed two new staffers to our Projects Team! This week we spoke with the first of our two new team members, Dr. Amanda Beacom, Senior Network Scientist,…
Defusing and De-escalating Conflict in a Network
Alex Derr
September 29, 2019
If you’re part of a network of organizations working towards a common goal, you know that conflict and discord is inevitable. While we often agree on a great deal, no…
How to Leverage Value in your network
Alex Derr
September 23, 2019
People collaborate for a simple reason: We find value from building networks with other individuals and organizations. We can do more together than we can alone. However we often view…
How to Survive Change: Trust is the Key
Jonathan Mischke
September 10, 2019
My wife and I have a tradition of watching the sunrise together every year on our anniversary. The first time was on the day we got married. Like most couples,…
The First Follower: What Ducklings Taught Me About Building a Network
Paige Backlund
September 4, 2019
What can a freeway, seven ducklings and a construction worker teach you about Network Leadership? To my surprise, last year they all taught me quite a bit! Last year, my…
How to Nurture a Culture of Exchange
David R. Hackett
August 16, 2019
Almost a decade ago, Dutch blogger Joitske Hulsebosch used a phrase in her blog that has stuck with me. The phrase has proved to be quite useful, and as relevant…
Understanding Perceptions of Relationships Makes Your Network Stronger
Danielle Varda
August 5, 2019
To Work Together Authentically, We Have To Be Comfortable With Knowing Perceptions Of Each Other A community partner on a project recently declared in a data meeting that “You cannot…
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