Theories and Networks related to my practise
Reader 3 is incredibly informative about the different theories within networking. I have chosen two of those theories Cooperation and affiliation and how they apply to my professional practise. I have chosen these two to discus in further detail as they helped me to think about what style do I use on a day to day basis within my practise.
Cooperation is a theory that the people who are in the relationship are only there for a known mutual reason, according to the reader it can described as ‘cooperate till maximum benefit then defect’ (Reader 3). Sometimes firms/people fail to cooperate with each other, even when cooperation would bring about a better collective outcome. I have found this theory quite baffling, if it would make a better outcome why wouldn't you communicate. My understanding is you use the communication and connection until you are done with it so the relationship becomes disposable ? Just like that ! This photo highlights my understand that you don't really know the person, you know the business outline and thats all you need, once you have achieved your goal they are blacked out and erased.
I feel cooperation an incredibly professional way of networking I feel this style may be beneficial in Law or in competitive industries, even though the 'Arts' is a competitive industry I feel the 'arts' need one another to survive and work, as we often work alone but then we join together to join a cast, we need one another and we need information off one another eg. music sheets and choreography. But when you finish a show you do not cut ties with one another completely, You often grow close to 2-3 people and that forms another network. I feel reputation is incredibly important in this industry whether it be performing or teaching. I feel taking advantage of people then dropping them is the wrong way in this industry the 'arts' world is so small everyone seems to cross paths in someway and I wouldn't want to me know as the girl who used people and then drops them.... Id never be hired! Where as in law you need to win a case you fight and fight a draw information out of people until the case is done then you simply move on.
The only thing I can relate to is how some of my networks have broken down since moving into the teaching side of my practise, I find many of my fellow dancers have stopped communicating with me so much as they used to, I used to provide information about auditions and opportunities, now I have stopped putting it out there they have stopped communicating which is really interesting as some of these dancers I classed as colleagues but also friends. Its very interesting to see where peoples loyalties lie when they no longer use you. This photo highlights the importance of creating good networking skills and creating a balanced relationship between you.
Affiliation is a concept in the field of social psychology that seeks to explain
how humans enjoy and benefit from affiliations with others and the reasons why
humans 'form close relationships' (Crisp &Turner, 2007, pp.266) In my
professional practise this is the type of relationships I often hold for example dance
college fellow students becoming friends and sharing information with one another,
previous colleagues both in and out of the 'arts' who I will communicate with regular.
However in my current work place I have maybe 2 - 3 people within the company that
I would say I have formed a close relationship with, its not that he other colleges
aren't nice , its just I like to retain a professional working environment and I try not to
blur the lines too much from friend to collegue as in the past I have witness that this can
caused unnecessary problems and gossip. An afflictive relationship would
be an ongoing developing relationship even when the goal is reached which is a strong difference to Cooperation, this is my preferred style when networking there is a fair balance and a mutual understanding. I feel these two styles are very different from one another but I can pick out things that relate to my practise from both of them. They have helped me to understand my networking style and what I used on a regular basis.
hey Lois- may! i found this a really interesting read as i am just finishing on my '3b blog' and was wondering if you changed your mind in regards to 'game theory' as you were writing? in the top paragraph you say the idea of it baffling and yet you go on to admit that it has happened to you, as people you considered friends don't keep in contact with you as often now you don't provide information they might need. Really interested to hear what your thought process was! thanks, lauren x
ReplyDeleteI found your comment really interesting, Lauren. It made me think about the idea of 'perception' and how a network between 2 people can be perceived so differently. It made me wonder if I am on the 'same page' as the other person in a formed relationship. Whether I am mistaking what is simple cooperation on their part to affiliation on mine. I think this can be linked in with the concept of 'Social constructionism' and how individuals create meaning and value from experiences and interactions. Is there a mutual understanding that the relationship formed is strictly to enhance practise and develop knowledge? I'd be really interested to hear any experiences you may have had.
Deleteyeah I developed whilst I was writing this blog and the more I looked into it I discovered a new way of thinking, I didn't think have I networked in the cooperation way but have I been treated in this way by others, I switched my thinking to try to grasp the theory. Really interesting that you can see my thought process through this blog. Thanks Lois x
ReplyDeleteI also meant baffling as in, 'how can you behave like that' I have never networked that way and I value my networks a lot of my networks have an underlining friendship too , Thanks for your comment it has made me think even more about how I network. Lois x
ReplyDeleteLike yourself once I graduated I found a lot of my close friendships ended, peoples loyalties changed and the goal was accomplished I guess! With teaching do you find you are more conscious of keeping work and personal life separate than you are in the arts industry?
ReplyDeleteHey Vicky! Thought your question was a really good one and made me think about my own practice. I find I have more cooperative networks in my teaching and more close affiliations within performance. How about yourself? I'd be more likely to go for a drink for example with my dance captain/choreographer than i would with a principle/head of department at a school. I think it would be interesting to look at this idea across different industries. A factor influencing this, I believe is that of ethical considerations. As a teacher you have a responsibility towards the children and an example to set. Also the opinions of parents to uphold. In the theatre there's a different perspective. Companies want to see that you are personable and are nice to be around. Particularly as a member of a touring company. You are not only working with these people but your are living, socialising etc and it is important to have a tight, positive atmosphere when you are in such close proximity all the time.
DeleteIt's interesting to read about how some of your networks have "broken down" As someone who has trained as a dancer and now teaches, would you say it is any easier maintaining networks as a teacher, as apposed to a dancer?
ReplyDeleteI find that as working in a ballet company we are required to have a very physical and personal relationship with dancers that it tends to strengthen friendships and networks. I'd be really interested to hear you opinion on this having worked in both environments.
Continuing from Lawrence's thoughts if I may. There's mention of knowing where people's loyalties lie but would you ever consider a network too large to remain in close contact with all who you would deem as friends?
ReplyDeleteOn a more personal level I have a few friends from school who I hardly talk to these days but we have a mutual understanding that life is quite busy and we still consider each other the same friends as we were before, despite time and distance.
Hi Ben. I think your second point is such a valid one to make and it's important to consider these external factors like time and distance that can easily affect our ability to create or uphold networks. It is quite common in this industry I feel to form very short but intense relationships due to the nature of the work and contracts. It can be very difficult to maintain these afterwards, particularly if your working abroad or touring. Elements such as time difference, lack of phone reception, rubbishy wifi connection and travel can often get in the way. However there is common ground in that most performers if they are true friends understand this. It is also apparent when you do eventually speak to or see theses people again and it feels like nothing has changed or vice versa. I have a friend in particular that I have happened to cross paths with a few times in regards to employment. We are so bad in between times at sustaining our relationship but as soon as we see eachither or work together it is like nothing has changed. I gather you have similar experiences?
DeleteContinuing from Lawrence's thoughts if I may. There's mention of knowing where people's loyalties lie but would you ever consider a network too large to remain in close contact with all who you would deem as friends?
ReplyDeleteOn a more personal level I have a few friends from school who I hardly talk to these days but we have a mutual understanding that life is quite busy and we still consider each other the same friends as we were before, despite time and distance.
Hi Victoria, thanks for your comment. I think it depends on who you are and how you want to come across.
ReplyDeleteI like to keep my personal life private as a teacher because when you teach you are in a professional environment around student and the conversations are usually about syllabus and exams etc.. you often do sway off and talk outside of a lesson and talk about general personal life but I find I try to remain friendly but professional. There is such a thin line, I often find myself close to a few teachers that I would feel comfortable blurring the line as they do the same with me, but that is often with teachers that I don't directly work with so it does not affect my day to day practise. On the other hand I do have one close friend who I work with on a regular basis, at first we were very professional but a friendship developed because if you have every worked with children you know how hard it can sometimes be and its important to have a good bond with someone to help you out, whether it be with planning or in the class itself.
In the performance industry, it was completely separate at auditions and networking online, but there was a 'pocket' of people that I would go class with and chat about auditions and agents so I would say that I felt more relaxed to share my personal life more to this 'pocket' of dancers as we were all friends, it helped because we all wanted different things out of the industry one commercial dancer, one more Musical theatre so the competitiveness wasn't as strong so we could form a bond easier than other dancers.
Overall I feel very strongly about remaining professional to a suitable extent, because I have learnt over this course that the people I admire in my practice are professional and organized.
Let me know your thoughts, Thanks Lois
Hi Laurence thanks for your interesting comment, I feel that you need to work at networking whether you are a dancer or a teacher, I feel in both jobs I had to work at maintaining the networks in different ways. As a dancer I had more time available when between jobs and I found I often had my days free but nights busy working, therefore I could use social media to network via different facebook groups and view up coming auditions, I could spend hours talking to another dancer on the phone or after class because I had more time, on the flip side I felt I had to be out there networking face to face to maintain it so it was more tiring. As a teacher my networks are fairly simple and I don’t have to be in constant contact with everyone, once people know you’re a teacher your number often gets passed around for cover ect.. then your network builds itself by producing good lessons. It’s a hard question both need work to maintain but teaching builds itself of a good reputation, and is easy to maintain via social media and texts.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment about network and friendships strengthen when you dance with some one, as I found when I dance it is emotional and you do need to connect with fellow dancers in order to perform. So maybe you are very closed at auditions but once in a cast more open to friendship and building a networks as they are the people you spend the most time with, maybe it is impossible to be closed constantly in cast ? Would be interesting to hear you thoughts, Lois
Hi Ben, I feel maybe that friends are more understanding that 'pockets' of people in your networks, friends get it and you can be blunt and honest with them. That would be interesting to look into further about language between friends and professional networks and how understanding both networks are to 'life' commitments .
ReplyDeleteyeah I developed whilst I was writing this blog and the more I looked into it I discovered a new way of thinking, ...
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