Transform the world with emergence

Emergence is essentially the whole as greater than the sum of its parts. It is beyond powerful as it creates new structures and abstractions in the way we think and act. Oh, and the natural world ... that's emergence. Jung's synchronicity: explained by emergence. Innovation: emergence etc.

Here is a simple recipe that works, based on recent findings of our growing guild movement. I have tried to tie it into whatever shreds of knowledge I have picked up along the way. Many sourced from you, helpful readers.

As Professor Snape would say,

"Reveal your secrets."

1. We live in a rationalist, agrarian society controlled by framing devices, narratives and a pecking order predicated on traits that system deems desirable
2. Dualistic, hunter-gatherer and mutualistic approaches are better for the VUCA world we now live in, understanding the universe as a whole (cf. systems thinking). These approaches are less judgemental, less stressful, more fun and more sustainable.
3. But these natural (for some) modes of interaction often lie dormant, playing out as depression, low self-esteem, (autism?), and disengagement (in this great article by Dr. Richard Claydon)
4. Why? Because many of our systems today are predicated on suppressing the emergent response through framing: schools, qualifications, pecking order and rank, work and the economic system. For many indoctrinated in these ways, these natural modes of interaction are very unnatural. Indeed these very systems co-opt a watered-down version of these emergent phenomenon to turn into the next wave of products by the process of recuperation. And in doing so reduce the natural entropy of the system by introducing essentially forgeries reducing (but not eliminating) new paradigm learning opportunities for consumers. The Laloux colours are involved in an epic power struggle:

1. Hope: the pilot light is always glowing ...
2. Servant leadership is the art of creating the conditions for emergence, a fresh perspective. This involves: massive rewiring of the network, setting a good example, providing psychological safety by tamping down on toxicity, ego and any factors that dampen the emergent behaviour of the group. Tips I use include: encouraging people to forget about job titles, pay grades and processes, ensuring everyone gets a turn to speak, getting to know each other, running sense-making sessions. Sharing the tips and tricks with everyone else. You will find once you get momentum the existing power structures will start to lose their grip since they are not the lead players in this new schoolyard game
3. What we build out of this is an embedded Teal organisation operating via a knowledge economy:

1. The secret is understanding that while this Teal organisation may be aligned to your present organisation, it is a valid (trans) organisational construct in its own right. Grow your network and define its boundaries as your wish. Clue: by reading this you just became an affiliate
2. As this emergence plays out, a transfer of power naturally occurs between the old agrarian system and its cultural web and the cultural web of the emergent organisation
3. Tear up the rule book: we are not being given power, we are becoming empowered

<notes>

A quick riff on OODA loops, raw idea still requiring development:

• Agrarian/rationalist mindset interrupts hunter-gatherer/emergent OODA loop causing a reset to first O since it is at a higher order Laloux colour e.g. Red/fear. Natural flow is further suppressed by systemic factors listed above
• In a group setting, hunter-gatherer OODA loops/group/individual confidence can be restored and so the OODA loops made more impregnable. This is what the guild does
• Promoting networking, mingling, flow of interaction and energy all helps
• And if we all get to know each other better as Margaret advises, this game further collapses
• A humanistic revolution

Also: the rationalist mindset cannot keep up with our guild/Borg variant of Boyd: Absorb Orient Assimilate Adapt (or something similar). The AOAA loop. This mindset screws with our OODA loop we screw with their AOAA loop and then build confidence to get inside their OODA loop with our newfound knowledge. So there is some competition involved as well as collaboration but through this approach we all evolve together.

A similar approach from the UNSG:

Greg Satell on Stanley McChrystal on rewiring the network:

Margaret Heffernan:

Daniel Wahl on this:

Natasha Miller Naderi:

A related approach highlighted by Mark Downham:

And an early article where I explore these concepts:

And a great article on becoming a polymath: