The Great Reboot

What if our current human systems are not fit for purpose in the face of accelerating sustainability challenges and technological development? What system upgrades might be needed? How might we reboot our operating systems to move forward on a more sustainable and meaningful path?

This article explores high-level dimensions of human development from a systems perspective, arguing for the need to reboot and upgrade our human systems across system levels, from individuals to societies and humanity at large.

Why do we need a Great Reboot?

As global and existential threats such as the climate crisis and biodiversity loss are accelerating – and our collective ability to respond intelligently so far is disappointing – it becomes increasingly clear that more fundamental renewal is needed.

The Great Acceleration is a concept that summarises the rapidly increasing effects of human activity upon the Earth, already overshooting several, science-based Planetary Boundaries and threatening our life-supporting environment and its self-regulation:

The scope, complexity, and implications of the Great Acceleration and Planetary Boundaries can be overwhelming and therefore difficult to relate to and act upon.

The Great Simplification is an interesting narrative that zooms out on the even bigger picture of planetary and human history, and singles out energy as the key driver of the Great Acceleration. Narrowing humanity's impact on Earth down to a question of energy consumption is literally a great simplification, but also makes it easier to comprehend what we have created and the challenges ahead – and realise that a radical shift in our trajectory is needed.

Being both scared and inspired by the Great Acceleration and -Simplification, I argue that we need a Great Reboot of our human operating systems across system levels, from individuals to societies and humanity at large.

What might a Great Reboot entail?

The idea of rebooting our human systems comes from the realisation that we need fundamental shifts in how we operate on all system levels – as societies, organisations, and individuals – to better navigate the current and future challenges.

Systems thinking frameworks such as the Iceberg Model, introduced in my previous article about systemic approaches to sustainable development, further strengthens the case for a reboot: In order to understand and influence events and patterns such as extreme weather and climate change, we need to understand and reshape the underlying systems, structures, and mental models:

I believe we need to reboot our operating system on virtually any arena of human activity, and through diverse efforts and upgrades based on the needs and conditions present in each context. Three high-level shifts that I envision are:

On macro level, such as our societies and life-supporting ecosystems:

• From extractive growth, largely driven by wealth accumulation and excessive consumption.
• To regeneration and fair sufficiency.
• Through systems transformation and paradigm shifts.

On meso level, such as the organisations, industries, and sectors holding up our societies:

• From "business as usual" that creates more of the same, e.g., linear business models based on extraction and disposal of natural resources.
• To new demands, solutions, and ways of working, e.g., circular business models closing the loop of resource use in value creation.
• Through innovation and transformation initiatives, addressing challenges and realising new business opportunities.

On micro level, such as individuals and groups of people:

• From being stuck in existing mindsets and habits.
• To leaning into renewal and progress.
• Through personal and group development.

"We need fundamental shifts in how we operate on all system levels to better navigate the current and future challenges."

How can we move forward?

When approaching sustainability challenges, we typically do so on macro level. This makes sense because most sustainability challenges are collective and often global by nature such as in the case of the climate crisis. However, as the Iceberg Model points at, our collective status quo and future progress on macro level depends on the mental models and other operating systems on micro and meso level.

So, for sustainable progress to happen, I believe we need to make a number of bottom-up leaps, starting with our individual journeys of personal development:

Individuals making personal leaps:

• From being reactive victims.
• To becoming self-navigating creators.
• Driven by empowerment and healing.

Groups making collaboration leaps:

• From inefficient coordination.
• To high-performing co-creation.
• Driven by new collaboration skills.

Organisations making innovation and transformation leaps:

• From "business as usual".
• To deliberate renewal and progress.
• Driven by new organisational capabilities and solutions.

Societies making sustainability leaps:

• From reducing harm.
• To creating positive impact.
• Driven by new ideals and intentions.

"Our collective status quo and future progress on macro level depends on the mental models and other operating systems on micro and meso level."

Facing a landscape of crisis and disruptions ahead, a journey of transformation is awaiting us – whether we like it or not, and whether we want to be part of the solution or mitigate the problems further down the road.

Or put another way: We can choose to reboot and transform ourselves based on deliberation – proactively creating a more desirable future – or we will be forced by our surroundings to transform out of necessity in far less attractive scenarios.

What do you choose? Which upgrades do you feel are needed on your arenas of life??

How can we be more specific and actionable?

In my previous article about evolving from systems thinking to systems feeling and healing, I explored some aspects of human development rooted in personal and group development.

In my next article, I will look further into building breakthrough organisations by upgrading leadership and governance.

Further down the road I may also?explore additional?dimensions important to societal development.

What are you curious to explore?