Giving Compass' Take:

• Dr. Daryl Ward emphasizes the importance of building deep, diverse relationships in the art world to seek and understand a variety of opinions.

• This advice could apply to a wide range of causes. How can donors do their best to network in meaningful ways?

• Here's why consistent quality is key to your philanthropic relationships.

As my time on Americans for the Arts’ Arts Education Council winds down, I’m given to reflecting on the power of “art-relationships.” Over the past three years, these relationships not only have benefitted me on a personal/social level, but also have elevated my professional expectations and performance. With my final council post for ARTS blog, I thought I’d share some insights I’ve learned as they relate to developing professional connections.

First, seek diverse relationships. In our society today, we’ve almost allowed the word “diversity” to be a stand-in for the word “race.” In reality, however, there are many facets of diversity. I’ve learned that diverse relationships offer me broader perspectives than I’m used to, which in turn foster professional inspiration. This means that having professional connections from varied geographic regions, from differing demographics, or from assorted cultural perspectives all work to make me a better arts administrator. It also means being willing to have honest conversations with others and being okay with being “wrong” — that’s how we learn and grow.

Second, connect with people who are smarter than you. Perhaps a better way to say it is to connect with people whose experiences are more diverse and more developed than yours. However you choose to frame it, relationships with people who can offer unique problem-solving insight are invaluable as a professional.

Read the full article about building relationships in the arts world by Dr. Daryl Ward at ARTS Blog.