Capacity Evolution

We do as we are. The choices we make and the actions we take are inextricably linked to our capacity to engage the world around us. A large part of that capacity depends on the lenses with which we view the world. These lenses are variously called “mindsets”, “mental models”, “worldview” or in developmental terms–”action logics.” Action logic meaning literally the logic behind our actions.

As we move through life, experience the world and face challenges we routinely engage the world from a set of established action logics. We begin moving through these action logics at birth and have the potential to continue to evolve our worldview all throughout our lives. Recognizable stages a great many of us pass through include:

• X: At this stage we are opportunists seeking to satisfy our immediate needs. If we need wood we chop down a tree. For more detail click here.
• G: We tend to conform to social norms, peer pressure and the will of the group. Our wood gathering depends on what and how others are doing it. For more detail click here.
• I:  We value and seek expertise. We believe in and try to follow the “right way.” We place a high value on logic and order. We develop a bureaucracy to manage trees with well-crafted rules for gathering wood. For more detail click here.
• T: We recognize the value in multiple perspectives and seek to align them to achieve our aims and goals. We recognize and revel in our ability to be self-authoring, creative, effective and successful. Thinking is generally linear. The utility and management practices of trees and forests is rigorously researched and investigated. Short and mid-term timber management planning goals are set. For more detail click here.

• H: We see the world as inter-related, egalitarian and relative. All perspectives may be seen as having merit. All voices need to be heard. Non-linear, systems thinking becomes possible. The intrinsic value and utility of trees as well as their eco-systemic value all must be brought to the discussion. For more detail click here.
• A: At this stage we begin to organize our strategy and actions around guiding principles that may vary from context to context. Eco-systemically informed action and understanding are possible. Not only can we see the forest and the trees we also seek a course of action that takes into account all stakeholders in the forest system and the bio-regional value chain to which they belong. For more detail click here.
• U: Transformation and expansion of the concept of “self” as well as awareness of inter-systemic relationships and dynamics allow us to start making subtle connections to deep processes and the insight for how to influence them. Tree, forests, bioregions, the biosphere and their constituents are concepts and dynamics that collapse, interplay and emerge in a dance of complexity with which we seek coherence and connection. From coherence and connection decision making and actions arise. For more detail click here.
• O: We are comfortable being one and many, being self-aware catalysts may or may not suit us. We are what is needed to be in the moment. From a unitive perspective the thusness of the world is fully appreciated in both it’s simplicity, complexity and moment by moment emergent nature. At one with the ongoing emergence and evolution of the universe a tree encompasses the totality of existence as it transforms into paper, toys, ant & bird host, lung, heat, smoke, anger and love. For more detail click here.

What is interesting about the evolution of action logics is that, like software upgrades, each one includes and adds to the potential functionality of the former. Another way of thinking about them is ascending a mountain. The higher one goes the more one sees. Previously lived action logics remain part of our experience and knowledge and we can refer back to them once we understand how they operate. Imagine your self in junior high school. You probably don’t want to return to the way you saw the world at that time, however, you can describe it, identify people acting like teenagers, perhaps empathize with what they’re going through and believe your self to be beyond that particular worldview.

Another interesting point about action logics is that, under stress or trauma, we may revert back to previous versions, similar to the regression to childhood popularly portrayed in a number of books and movies. Overwhelming amounts of stress shut us down. We can all relate to falling apart (or at least not being at our best) in a presentation to a key client, a superior or in some other equally stressful situation. That’s when stress wins. Prolonged or powerful (9/11 for example) periods of stress can have the same affect on our worldview and change whole communities and even nations. On the other hand, with the desire to become more, with skillful support and environmental challenge we tend to evolve toward worldviews more capable of handling the complexity, chaos and uncertainty that emerges from a highly inter-related world. As mentioned above later action logics are typified by an expansion, extension and deepening of perception and knowing in comparison to their former iterations. Again, look at your self in junior high school. Look at your self now. You are most likely capable of taking a more expanded, deeper and extended perspective on your experience now than you could then. That is a snapshot of the evolution of your consciousness, your action logic.

Research has shown that the evolution of action logics is basically the same for every person and organization. In other words, though the content of our growth and experiences will be different, the structure or architecture of our perceptions of our experiences is remarkably and consistently similar. Just as all of us develop from childhood through adolescence to adulthood we also continue on the same developmental path in adulthood. Think about your own progression from conformity to specialty and perhaps onward to a more T-shaped worldview. I’ve got my story and, I’m sure, you have yours.

For more information on action logics and adult developmental theory we recommend the work of Susanne Cook-Greuter and Robert Kegan. Their research, wisdom and writing have greatly informed and are foundational in our own research and work in capacity evolution at Interkannections.