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In this conversation, the brilliant Dr. Richard Hodge (aren't you glad you live in a universe that includes him?) introduces the four quadrant model as a way of clarifying and codifying our approach to complex problems.

Before we get into it, I wanna say: This is high-level stuff.

It's meaty (ok, seitan-y) and will take a while for most folks to digest. (I'm still working on it after being introduced to Richard's work over 3 months ago.)

And it's the real deal — a ninja path to high level impact at scale in a TUNA world.

(TUNA, which we learn about in this episode, stands for Turbulent, Uncertain, Novel, and Ambiguous. Richard likes it better than VUCA, and now I do too.)

The four quadrants are:

• WHY (drives meaning)
• HOW (drives connection)
• WHAT (what we're going to do)
• IF (impact if implemented)

The beauty is, we can apply this process to both large-scale organizational problems and personal challenges.

The process is question-based.

First, we ask why to uncover meaning and values.

Then we explore how to build connections between people, nodes of the system, and outside forces.

We inquire into what we're going to do, diving into the oft-overlooked details of strategy, operations, and governance. (Yes, this is complex, but you can apply it to your personal goals and challenges, like improving your diet or starting a journaling habit or upgrading how you communicate with work colleagues and loved ones.)

Then we look at the projected consequences and outcomes, and ask if they match our initial goals and values.

We go deep here, covering concepts like identity and policy framework. And I realize this isn't your usual podcast-while-taking-a-walk episode.

In fact, I highly recommend you set aside time and space to watch the video — there's a lot of valuable white-boarding, which will make the whole thing way more understandable.

And I don't want the complexity to obscure the big idea here: that every person has a role to play in making the world a better place. By understanding their place in the larger system, they have exponentially more power to contribute to positive change.

Links

DrRichardHodge.com

Sir Ken Robinson's TED Talk: "Do Schools Kill Creativity?"

Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl

Walking Well, by Michael Gelb and Bruce Fertman

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Thoughts on the episode? Let us know.

What can we learn from indigenous knowledge systems about how to navigate and transform our world?

My guest, Dr Richard Hodge, points out several aspects of Aboriginal culture that can help us act effectively and with heart and wisdom in a world full of problems.

To guide us in a complex world, we need touchstones of value.

For many indigenous peoples, that's the function of totems and totemic beings: kangaroo, echidna, wallaby, and so on.

Counterintuitively, seeing the world through a totemic perspective offers greater clarity than how we often view it, through the lens of our limited egoic state, entangled with fight-or-flight fancies that superimpose themselves over reality.

Our perception colors our interpretation of the world.

The Western mindset sees the world as a number of separate objects, ourselves among them. Which means our prime directive is always control and domination of the "other" — whether it be nature, or the weather, or animals, or other people.

Shifting to an indigenous way of seeing creates connection and opportunities for collaboration and synergies on a systems-level.

And that's the level at which transformational change at scale becomes possible.

With that foundation, Dr Hodge shares his Dragonfly Model of systemic, deep change.

If you can, watch rather than just listen, because there are diagrams and models that can help you follow the concepts and the conversation.

Enjoy our yarning, and please let us know what you think.

Links

DrRichardHodge.com

Thomas Berry, "The Meadow Across the Creek"

Stephanie Kelton, economist

Mariana Mazzucato, economist

Bertrand Russell, "In Praise of Idleness"

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I'm particularly excited about this conversation. Dr. Richard Hodge is not just an expert; he’s deeply inspirational. On his home page, he writes about two core beliefs:

1. Each of us matters more than we think.
2. We can do more than we think in the time we have on this Earth.

Are you as jazzed as I am to unpack those beliefs?

In our conversation, Richard speaks about his philosophies with a blend of humility and urgency, encapsulated by his forward mantra: “No problem too big.”

This isn't our first conversation. We did one a couple of months ago, but Richard actually suggested we hold off on releasing it as it should be 'conversation number four'. He stressed the importance of laying a foundational framework first—a classic systems thinker approach! So, this episode is the first of four, culminating in our original chat.

In today's episode, we explore topics ranging from the profound impact of value and relevance on our actions to the importance of doing no harm as we navigate an increasingly complex world. Richard introduces his engaging framework connecting value, relevance, and consequences, guiding us toward profound sustainable change.

One aspect we delve into is the idea that individuals at any level can make a significant impact.

Richard tells an insider story about the design and construction of Heathrow's Terminal 5 which illustrates how removing bureaucratic obstacles and embracing collaboration can lead to remarkable success. It’s a shift from the reductionist, profit-driven models we’ve become accustomed to, spotlighting the importance of human-centric and life-centric designs.

Look forward to exploring more of Richard’s models, like the interplay between value, relevance, and consequences, in subsequent episodes. For now, I'll leave you with a new perspective, inspired by Richard, on finding worthiness in our actions and seeing the bigger picture in everything we do.

Links

DrRichardHodge.com

Thinking in Systems, by Donella Meadows

Kathryn Cormican Industry 5.0

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