Nature's Principles Spiral

When strategising or planning, we usually ask ourselves...What's the desired outcome? What do I/we want to do?

These are natural, more than likely, ego-centric questions. But how can we make the question more eco-centric, more ecological, following Nature's principles? With an eco ego, the aim is for SYNERGY and PRECESSION, where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, e.g.  1 + 1 = 4.

For synergy to occur,  both DIVERSITY and INTERDEPENDENCE are required. The energising eco-centric desired outcome is to value diversity, work interdependently and hope for synergy. However,  synergy is not predictable. Synergistic outcomes require TRUST (in self, in each other, in the system). When in tune with Nature, synergy emerges and energises further spirals.

Inevitably there will also be follow-on side effects or ripple effects that we call precession. It's important we take responsibility for not only the positive effects (often called serendipity), but also address the emergent negative effects (often called unintended consequences). Again, when in tune with Nature, the positive effects will outweigh the negative, and serendipity energises further spirals to value diversity and working interdependently even more. That's the way Nature works.

NEXT: Values Spiral — Four imperatives for any eco-centric strategy.

  The Principles Spiral (tex &, graphics) by Yoshimi & Jon Brett is marked with CC0 1.0 (OK to copy)

Strategy Spiral

In times of uncertainty, use the Strategy Spiral to:

• Inspire the team to make a difference for the Planet.
• Aim for eco-centric, emergent outcomes, avoiding ego-centric desired outcomes!
• Use Next Practice  decision making, in tune with Nature.
• Collaborate interdependently with a sense of purpose.

For any project or initiative, the Strategy Spiral considers the:

1. Contexts and Potentials of the big picture. What systems are your strategy nested within, and what are the inherent potentials?
2. Four functions or roles of the project or initiative.
3. Interdependencies of the Functions.
4. Actions that will improve those interdependencies, plus Feedback systems to monitor the actions.

The strategy spiral steps multiple times through the four elements. Although these elements are interdependent, the metaphors fire, earth, water and air help us distinguish the differences and the relationships. This is how Emérgéntly distracts us from the polarised, linear thinking that created the current emergencies. Download the Spirals Overview 

Download Emérgéntly Strategy 3.5MB ZIP Emérgéntly Strategy Download Emérgéntly Strategy 3.5MB ZIP file containing:

• Emérgéntly Strategy Spiral v5 PowerPoint for facilitating the Emérgéntly Strategy Spiral.
• Strategy Spiral Template v5 MS Word template for documenting your strategy.

Next: Example Projects

More on the Practices Spiral

  Page and downloads by Yoshimi & Jon Brett are marked with CC0 1.0  (OK to copy)

Approach: Seed Spirals

Try sowing these 4 seeds to emerge gently into a regenerative future and give Nature a seat at the table.

Seeds, when nourished, emerge into a new order, a new system. The Emérgéntly Spiral is a nature-based, metaphorical framework that guides us toward emergent solutions and actions. These 4 Emérgéntly Seed Spirals will help re-mind your understandings of how we can better receive and apply Mother Nature's principles to our own challenges.

The seeds to sow for transformational change are:
Intent to energise us to be more eco-logical.
Impact to transform local solutions into global ones.
Principles to solidify systems-thinking.
Values to unify us in following the principles.

Intent Spiral	Impact Spiral
If we transform our ego-centric approaches to being more eco-centric, we will develop an eco ego. This will solidify Nature having  a seat at the table in all our decision making, helping us go beyond self-sufficiency and unifying to collaborate for shared-sufficiency. Ultimately, what we do is for the future generations, so it energises each of us to be a good ancestor.	In our highly connected world, we can easily learn global and act local, then  redefine where the same solutions might work elsewhere for global impact.
Principles Spiral	Values Spiral
When EGOs understand that it's no longer about what I need...but rather, what the system needs... then Nature's principles of diversity and interdependence allow the emergence of synergy! Tnen precession (the ripple effect) magnifies the consequences, whether intended or not. More on the Principles Spiral.	Values to explore when you, your team, your community need integrity reminders, holistic solutions and peaceful outcomes. More on the Values Spiral.

Download the Spirals Overview of all eight spirals.

NEXT: Strategies: Practices Spiral
(once the above seeds are sown)

This page (graphics and text) by Yoshimi & Jon Brett is marked with CC0 1.0 (OK to copy)

Practices Spiral

This Spiral is CC0 1.0 (OK to copy)

What level of uncertainty do you operate in? Where is your comfort zone?

EARTH Like climbing a mountain, we can use BEST PRACTICE where following a prescribed process will reliably produce the desired outcome.

AIR Like predicting the weather we can use DISCIPLINED PRACTICE, where understanding the different systems that influence the constantly changing process enables us to predict the outcome with some reliability.

WATER Like fishing on a lake, we can use SHARED PRACTICE and focus on commonly accepted practices because the outcome is seldom reliable.

FIRE Like finding a building on fire with people still inside, we can use NEXT PRACTICE and focus on immediate next-step strategies.

Most planning frameworks assume we know what to do, in general. Up to the Water level of uncertainty we can establish a specific, shared vision of the future and how to get there. However, at the Fire level of uncertainty, there are too many options with unknown outcomes. All we can do is strategise what to do next and closely monitor progress. Ilya Prigogene  said: uncertainty is a very initial condition for novelty and novelty is our hope. 

NEXT: Strategy Spiral how to create an emergence strategy.

More on the Framework Spiral  More on the Principles Spiral  More on the Values Spiral

Complexity Theory

The Emérgéntly Uncertainty Spiral has similarities with Dave Snowden's Cynefin Framework. The video will be fascinating for those interested in complexity theories (more on Youtube).

His more recent work on "Estuarine Mapping" takes a similar approach to our Emergence Strategy. It's far more important to know where we are and where we can go next than to have an aspirational future goal.