How Emergent Strategy can radically shift your culture
The antidote to hierarchical, static, and linear strategy
In an era of significant change and turmoil, traditional strategy is overly hierarchical, linear, and static.
One approach that runs counter is the agile framework. But I find the agile framework still to be too technical, too focused on quantity over quality. Not honoring the natural cycles we are a part of.
The approach that I incorporate in strategy planning is Emergent Strategy, coined by adrienne maree brown. Here is a summary of her principles.
What is Emergent Strategy?
Emergent Strategy is strategies that leverage relatively simple interactions to create complex patterns, systems, and transformations, accounting for constant change and relying on the strength of relationships. It is heavily informed by the systems of nature and natural ecosystems.
“Emergent Strategy is how we intentionally change in ways that grow our capacity to embody the just and liberated worlds we long for.” — adrienne maree brown
5 Principles of Emergent Strategy
- Fractal Awareness: Patterns repeat. How we are at the small scale is how we are at the large scale.
- Interdependence and Decentralization: Mutual dependence and dispersion of functions.
- Adaptation: Changing while staying connected to the deeper mission.
- Non Linear and Iterative Change: Encouraging learning versus failure and cyclical rhythms
- Resilience: Able to recover and become strong and healthy after impact.
Strategic Questions to Consider
With these principles of emergent strategy, we have new questions to consider in our planning.
- How are you working in concert versus hierarchical priorities and pet projects?
- How do you stay connected within the organization during change?
- What are your cyclical planning and learning processes?
- How are you managing your risk and resilience?
This post was created with Typeshare
