Lessons from Nature, part 3: Win-Win

Lessons from Nature, part 3: Win-Win - reflecting on TetraMap

You may think I’m a bit over-the-top but I get ridiculously excited every time I notice a Lichen. “Why?” you may well ask… and I have an answer! It is because Lichen’s represent the best hope for our Planet.

You may then say, “Lex, that’s as clear as… mud!” Let me explain. Lichens are not one living organism but two that cohabit as one. The two live as one in such harmony that each collaboration can legitimately be identified as a species in their own right.

All Lichens (pronounced like ‘Kitchens’ with an ‘L’ in the UK and like ‘Liken’ in some of the other parts of the World) are a lifetime collaboration between a fungus and either algae or cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). This creates the perfect ‘marriage’ between very different types. The algae or cyanobacteria have the talent to collect energy from sunlight. The fungi are brilliant at collecting, saving, and sharing water and nutrients, and most fungi are excellent at clinging onto otherwise hostile surfaces. This is why you find Lichens in the most unfavourable environments… thriving in ‘improbable’ situations.

[And NEWSFLASH, as a result of this article, a friend sent me this update: https://theconversation.com/lichens-may-be-a-symbiosis-of-three-organisms-a-new-order-of-fungus-named-63334 - it seems that Lichens may be a collaboration between three different lifeforms to form one. How 'TetraMap' is that?!]

In Science, this collaboration is called, “Symbiosis.” It is Nature’s highest example of win-win rather than the win-lose model of predator and prey, or parasite and host. The word ‘Symbiosis’ means, “Living Together.” Other examples of Symbiosis include cleaner fish (often Wrasses) that clean giant fish like Groupers or even Killer Sharks! Personal favourites are the bird species that clean the teeth of crocodiles and alligators. For example, Plovers will crawl into the mouth of a crocodile (who will gladly open wide its jaws) to act as Dental Hygienists.

The focus of my delights in this message are on the difference between the two collaborators, and on the mutuality of the benefits. These species that work together towards a win-win are never, ever similar. You don’t get crocodiles cleaning the teeth of other crocodiles, or sharks cleaning sharks.

As TetraMappers, we may not be crocodiles or sharks. What we do have in our tribe is differences that enrich us all so that we can live better together. Sometimes it can be easy to forget that our differences are our strength, and the greater the differences, the greater the opportunities to create a win-win outcome.??Any great salespeople out there who want to help me build reach???Any experts in WordPress? I need some Symbionts!

Before I proceed, I'd like to press 'pause' for a huge "Aha!" moment that writing this has given me. In Neuro-Linguistic Progamming there is talk of "metaprogrammes". These are the subroutines that people run in their minds to make sense of the information that comes flooding in through the senses.

An example would be the programmes to 'sort-for-similarity' and to 'sort-for-difference'. On most occasions, people who sort-for-similarity are far easier to get along with. These are the people who are always filtering information to see what we share in common.

People who sort-for-difference can be exhausting. They are filtering information to look for the differences. They come across as critical and negative even though this is not the intention.

Understanding TetraMap will give you the best of both worlds. You can sort-for-similarity when it comes to values. However, you will find a new value in sorting-for-differences because the frame has become, "our differences strengthen us." I'm looking at people in new ways. I may think to myself, "How are you different?" and, "How is that a strength?" and, "How can we be stronger together?" That's a paradigm shift for me with positive consequences...

What is the greatest strength you bring to TetraMap?

• For example, are you a particularly good listener?
• Have you suffered much and yet come through the other side in a way that can guide others through the process?
• Do you have a deep understanding of biophilic design? https://www.biophilicdesign.net
• Are you a good writer who can articulate difficult or challenging relationship scenarios in a way that others can relate to?
• Do you understand diversity?

Take off any sense of self-criticism or shyness for a moment and consider your strengths. I can guarantee that you have strengths that differ from others here in the TetraMap Tribe.

Now, ask yourself, “Who in the TetraMap Community could I add my strengths too, and whose strengths would I most benefit from?”

Let’s make each other stronger… especially in tetrahedral groups of threes and fours!

Oh, and do feel free to post your strength in the comments. I’m keen to collaborate – especially if you’re really different from me.

Lex

A TetraMap Facilitator.

Endnote: What is TetraMap?

If you're feeling excluded because this is an article focusing on the TetraMap Tribe, I'd like you to feel welcome to join the tribe! TetraMap is the only behavioural model I know where there are no opposites. This means that every difference is a potential strength to be explored, rather than a threat to be avoided. By valuing and harnessing diversity, TetraMap transforms team performance, and does so by using 'Discovery Learning'. Discovery Learning is a seriously 'playful' approach to fully engaging learners in the process so that they own the learning that they are enjoying so much. The results are long-term positive change way after any discovery event.

Discover more here: https://www.tetramap.com