Liberating Structures
Social Network Webbing
Map informal connections and decide how to strengthen the network to achieve a purpose. This structure reveals the invisible web of relationships that already exists—making it visible so you can intentionally strengthen it, expand it, and leverage it for collective impact.
Social Network Webbing
What is made possible - What it unlocks
Social Network Webbing makes the invisible visible. It helps groups see who knows whom, who has access to what, and where the natural bridges and gaps exist in their network. Participants gain a tangible map of their collective social capital, discover unexpected allies and resources, and leave with concrete actions to strengthen relationships that matter most. It transforms abstract networking into a strategic, visual, and actionable process.
When to use it
- When launching a new initiative and you need to identify key influencers and connectors who can help spread the word
- When a team or community feels fragmented and you want to rebuild trust and collaboration
- When you’re trying to solve a complex challenge and need to tap into hidden expertise or resources within your network
- When entering a new market, organization, or community and you want to quickly understand the relational landscape
- When designing partnerships or coalitions and you need to see who’s connected to whom and how information flows
- When you want to democratize access to opportunities by making everyone’s connections visible and shareable
- When onboarding new members and helping them see how they can plug into the existing network
- When evaluating the health and resilience of your network—are there isolated pockets? Over-reliance on one connector?
🛠️ The five design elements of Social Network Webbing
Each Liberating Structure consists of five simple design elements to make participation possible for everyone. By shaping these elements with care, you move beyond rigid control or chaos and create space for people to contribute, listen, and co-create.
- 1. The Invitation
- 2. Setup & Materials
- 3. Participation Flow
- 4. Group Configuration
- 5. Sequence & Timing
How you frame the purpose or question that sets the focus and energy of the group.
- nvite the members of a core working group with a shared purpose to create a map of their network and to decide how to expand and strengthen it
- Ask them to name the people they are currently working with and those they would like to include in the future (i.e., people with influence or expertise they need to achieve their purpose)
- Invite them to “weave” connections in the network web to advance their purpose
The arrangement of space and which tools or resources are needed to support interaction.
- Large wall space with a tapestry paper or multiple flip-chart pages
- Sticky notes (at least 8 colors is preferrable), markers, string or yarn (for physical mapping), or digital equivalents
- A clear central goal or challenge written at the center of the map
- Space for participants to move around and collaborate
- Online: whiteboard, or digital canvas (like Miro or Mural)
Who gets a voice and how everyone is actively included in the process.
- Everyone involved in the core working or planning group is included
- Everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute
How people are arranged (alone, small groups, or all together) and how this shifts during the activity.
- 1-2-4-All to generate the names of all the key groups
- Everyone together to generate the names of people in the network and construct the map
The step-by-step flow of the activity and the time given to each step to keep energy and focus.
- Create a legend of the key groups in your network and assign each group a Post-it color or symbol. (5 min)
- Each core group member writes their name clearly on a Post-it and places it in the center of the wall. (5 min)
- Ask core group members, “What people do you know that are active in this work?” Have them create a Post-it for each person. Use 1-2-4-All to extend the list of names and to arrange the Post-its by degrees of separation from the core group. (10 min)
- Ask, “Who else would you like to include in this work?” Use 1-2-4-All to brainstorm and create Post-its for additional people. Build the map as a web with a core and periphery structure (mimicking the actual and desired spread of participation). Individuals in this group may be your friends’ friends. Add new legend categories and colors as the webbing expands. (10 min)
- Have the core group step back and ask, “Who knows whom? Who has influence and expertise? Who can block progress? Who can boost progress?” Illustrate the answers with connecting lines. (15 min)
- Ask the group to devise strategies to: 1) invite, attract, and “weave” new people into their work; 2) work around blockages; and 3) boost progress. (10 min)
Total time: 60 minutes
Online version
Adapted for virtual use, with the same impact
All the steps are the same as described above. The most important thing you need for Social Network Webbing Online is a digital whiteboard where people can post digital sticky notes and draw lines.
Also prepare breakout rooms for the small groups to work in.
Total time: 60 minutes
Solo version
Adapted for individual use and personal development
- Write down your specific goal or challenge. Create a legend of 4-6 key groups of people relevant to this goal (e.g., “technical experts,” “decision-makers,” “funders”). Assign each group a color or symbol. (5 min)
- Write your name in the center of a large paper or board. Add sticky notes for everyone you currently know who’s relevant to your work, using your color/symbol system. Place them closer or further from center based on relationship strength. (10 min)
- Add notes for people you’d like to include but don’t yet know well. Place these in your network’s periphery. (5 min)
- Draw lines between people who know each other. Mark who has influence, expertise, or could block/boost your progress using symbols or annotations. (10 min)
- Step back and observe patterns: Where are clusters and gaps? Who are key connectors? What relationships feel one-sided or over-relied upon? Write down what you notice. (5 min)
- For each desired peripheral connection, trace potential pathways: Who in your current network might know them? Who could introduce you? Draw these connection routes. (5 min)
- Write 5-7 concrete strategies to attract new connections, work around blockages, and strengthen key relationships. Then identify 3 immediate actions you can take this week. (15 min)
- Photograph your map or transfer it digitally. Set a reminder to update it monthly or quarterly as your network evolves. (5 min)
Total time: 60 minutes
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All Liberating Structures in 1 e-book
All Liberating Structures (44!) including explanations, visual step-by-step guide, and worksheets in a handy workbook for € 11,-
- Simple methods for big changes
- Have interactions that truly matter
- Build a culture of innovation step by step
- Involve and activate everyone in the group
Proven over decades
🧠 Why it works
Liberating Structures are not magic tricks—they work because they tap into how people naturally think, connect, and collaborate. Each structure is carefully designed to unlock participation, spark creativity, and build trust, using principles grounded in social science and human interaction.
Attribution: Liberating Structure developed by Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless. Inspired by June Holley, network weaver.
Network Visibility
Making connections explicit helps people see the full landscape of available resources and relationships, reducing silos and blind spots.
Social Capital Activation
By mapping who knows whom, the group can strategically leverage relationships and access resources that were previously hidden or underutilised.
Collective Intelligence
The process surfaces knowledge and connections distributed across the group, revealing patterns and opportunities no single person could see alone.
Action-oriented Insight
The visual map transforms abstract networking into tangible next steps, making it easier to prioritize outreach and collaboration.
Riffs and Variations
Start with creative constraints to learn this structure and then... go liberate yourself and try some variations.
- Digital webbing: Use online tools like Miro, Mural, or Kumu to create interactive, shareable network maps
- Resource mapping: Instead of just people, map skills, tools, funding sources, or physical spaces available in the network
- Time-based layers: Use different colors to show current connections vs. potential future connections. Come back to the maps frequently: update who is involved now and growth patterns
- Influence mapping: Add symbols or sizing to indicate the level of influence or access each connector has
- Speed networking combo: Pair with Impromptu Networking first to warm people up and generate fresh connections to add to the map
Tips
Lessons learned from other facilitators.
- Start with a clear, compelling goal or challenge at the center—vague goals produce vague maps
- Focus on developing a strong core group that gets things done and a diverse periphery that adds new ideas and growth—the periphery is often in your Friends’ Friends network
- Encourage members to dream BIG when considering whom they want to include in the future
- Make the map visual and engaging—use colors, symbols, and photos to bring it to life, but don’t include more than 10 functions or distinct groups in the legend (it gets too confusing!)
- Write down people’s names whenever possible instead of positions/titles—personal connections matter
- When weaving and connecting people, think small (e.g., pairs, small interest groups) for more meaningful relationships
- Capture the map digitally so it can be updated and shared later, and always follow up with action—learn more from Smart Networks cofounder June Holley at www.networkweaver.com
Traps
Don't make the same mistakes.
- The map becomes too cluttered or complex—focus on quality connections over quantity
- Power dynamics prevent some people from sharing their connections—create a safe, non-judgmental space
- The exercise ends with the map and no action plan—always close with concrete next steps
- Over-reliance on a few super-connectors—look for ways to distribute connections and build redundancy
- Mapping positions or titles instead of actual people—this loses the personal, relational element that makes networks powerful
- Trying to map everyone at once—start with the core and build outward gradually
- Creating the map but never updating it—networks are dynamic and need regular refresh to stay useful
Try it with…
The real power of Liberating Structures emerges when you combine them into "strings." Link different structures together to build on insights and create more powerful results. Here are some nice combinations:
- Impromptu Networking at the start to activate relationships and generate fresh connections to map
- What, So What, Now What? (W3) to reflect on the patterns you see in the map and decide what to do next
- 15% Solutions to identify small, immediate actions individuals can take to strengthen key connections
- Troika Consulting to get peer advice on how to approach specific high-value connections
- What I Need From You (WINFY) to make specific requests for introductions or support
- Design Storyboards to visualize and prototype how you’ll activate specific connections and bring people together in meaningful ways
Field stories
To get to know Liberating Structures without having used them yourself, it helps to see familiar situations from real-life practice. Chances are that you or your team have faced one of these challenges before. Discover how to approach these kinds of situations in a fresh and engaging way.
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Social Network Webbing
Map informal connections and decide how to strengthen the network to achieve a purpose.
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