This summer, our house was invaded by flies. Gnats, house flies, drain flies—you name it, they were there. In our quest to banish them, we uncovered the grim root issues: a faulty sump pump, cracked kitchen pipes, and a damp basement downstream of it all. The flies were merely symptoms – outcomes of deeper, more expensive issues that needed to be addressed first to prevent those murky breeding grounds.
This got us thinking: what are the “flies” in network collaboration and systems change work? What are the red flags, or those pesky signs, the small annoyances that actually hint at much deeper problems?
- Silent Meetings: When conversations go quiet during collective action planning, it might seem harmless. But silence can signal that backbone organizations are shouldering too much of the planning, processes, and decision-making, leaving others disengaged and uninvested. (horse flies)
- Hijacked Conversations: Ever notice when a few voices dominate and steer discussions off-topic? This may signal that the agenda or outcomes are not clearly defined and hijacking dilutes the conversation–leading to frustration, in-fighting, and a lack of progress. (drain flies)
- Purpose Confusion: When strategic meetings run off track and halfway around the block, that’s a signal that network members aren’t clear about the collective’s goals. It leads to disengagement, high turnover, and frustration, especially among those managing programs and fundraising. (house flies)
- Resource Struggles: If individual member organizations are grappling with funding or staff turnover, it can create anxiety about the network’s fiscal stability and focus, causing members to panic. (termites)
- Persistent Complaints: Listen for the grumbles about online platforms, the need to recall decisions already made, or “just not seeing the point” in collective sense making activities. Even if it’s a small margin of members with ongoing complaints, they can wear down patience and morale, both in network members and in your backbone staff. (gnats)
The moral of this fly tale? Don’t ignore the small stuff—those tiny annoyances might be hinting at much bigger challenges lurking beneath the surface!
Shine Lab Associates 