Table of Contents
Most problems that matter cannot be solved by a single individual. Each individual can contribute to a solution, but if our contributions are misaligned, the result is not a solution, but a lot of disappointment and friction. A perfect plan is doomed to fail if there's no support for it.
There are several frameworks that help align around a problem-solution.
From my software career I've come to like Agile methodologies, The original Agile Manifesto is very focused on business, assuming customer-supplier relationships. In reality relations between collaborators are much more fluid. However, from the Agile principles, and the pressure of business, a lot of good working practices have emerged. One of the most powerful ones I feel is “Inspect and Adapt”. First you need to know the current state of things, then you can adapt your behavior, the (software) system, or the perceptions of the state. Knowing the current state of things is crucial in order to be able to change them effectively.
In agriculture, Permaculture emerged. Like Agile, it has 12 principles. And like Agile can be applied outside the software industry, Permaculture can be applied outside of agriculture. Social permaculture inspires me. The first principle in permaculture is “Observe and Interact”. Knowing the current state of things is crucial in order to be able to change them effectively.
In the educational real people invented Sociocracy. In the business realm holacracy. These are similar and sometimes overlapping systems to help organize larger groups in a non-hierarchical manner. To learn more about this, you can start executing some recipes from https://sociocracy30.org/, or read the book Reinventing Organizations.
Generally Helpful behavior 1: Ask why five times
Ask why five times is a principle I learned in Agile software, but it has wider application.
I like this practice, because it helps to remind me to ask what is going on, instead of running off on an assumption. One of the best ways to pop out of fire fighting mode.
Generally Helpful Behavior 2: The scientific method
The scientific method in its base is rather simple, and it can be applied to all domains.
The steps are:
- Define a question
- Gather information and resources (observe)
- Form an explanatory hypothesis
- Test the hypothesis by performing an experiment and collecting data in a reproducible manner
- Analyze the data
- Interpret the data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for a new hypothesis
- Publish results
- Retest (frequently done by other scientists)
(from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method)
A really good way to test if some theory is useful (under the scientific method) is to ask: “Can you make a falsifiable prediction with this theory?”. A claim, even if it is true, is not useful if it cannot be falsified.
What many people don't understand very well is that science doesn't tell you the absolute truth about reality as it is. Instead it allows you to make sense of your perception of reality, without taking the side track to crazy town. Typically doing rigorous scientific research will leave you with more questions and wonder about how things are, but they will be more interesting and detailed questions than when you started.
Regenerative business
Doing business with only the goal of making money is potentially harmful, and has a lower chance of being helpful. Building businesses with the explicit goal of doing good, instead of harm is a more wholesome approach. I call myself a 'regenerative entrepreneur' to remind myself that's what I want to do.
Reading on regenerative business: