Systemic change won’t come about through a master plan

But from something far more unpredictable.

Dominant cultural models preach:

• Control

• Division

• Mistrust

But, those don’t work for complex, living systems.

So, how can we design for emergence in our communities & networks?

Emergence as in inviting a more organic ways of working, where intelligence, energy and power bubble up from everywhere.

Here are 7 practical tips.

1. Critical Connections, Not Critical Mass 🫂

Many networks get caught up in a numbers game.

• How many members?

• How many people impacted?

So, relationships get de-prioritized along the way.

However:

The real strength of a network isn’t in its size.

It’s in the quality of its relationships. In other words, without connection, no strategy sticks.

But, when people feel seen, heard and valued, trust grows. And trust enables learning, action and innovation.

So, move at the speed of trust, not the speed of "getting things done."

2. Be a Gardener, Not a CEO 🌱

The dominant way of organizing is top-down hierarchy.

• One person in charge.

• The classic Western myth of the lone hero.

• One person pretending to have all the answers.

A network that depends on one leader is fragile.

It’s just not how living systems work.

So, instead of a pyramid, think of a garden.

A gardener's role isn't to force every plant to grow in a specific way.

It's to create the fertile conditions (soil, water, light) for a wide range of plants to thrive.

Resilience comes from distributed leadership a.k.a. when people are invited into ownership, accountability and engagement.

So, enable members initiate projects. Set up a simple way for people to say, “Hey, I want to lead this.” 

Then rotate leadership.

Let different people facilitate meetings or lead activities.

3. Be Like Water 🌊

The traditional strategic plan, with its rigid, multi-year objectives, is a tool for a static world.

The dominant culture loves

• “Good” plans

• Rigid roadmaps

• Strategic vision with 3-year timelines

It feels safe.

But, trying to control a network's direction is like trying to hold water in your hands. It will inevitably find a new path.

Complex systems are in constant flux.

The goal is not to eliminate change, but to play with it.

When you let go of rigid plans, you make room for emergence. You allow the network to find its own way forward.

So, work in short cycles & experiments. At the end, ask: "What did we learn?" Then, decide on your next small move.

Remember:

Sometimes the most innovative ideas come from a little purposeful drift.

4. Small, Simple & Steady 📌

A common mistake in network building is trying to create a complex, fully-formed system from day one.

Dominant culture implants a pressure:

• To launch massive and scalable projects

• To build everything at once

• To have all the answers

It’s paralyzing.

If you try to build a complex system from scratch, it will be fragile.

But nature, complex structures don't appear overnight. Even a powerful mycelial network grows from a single thread.

Something intricate can grow from simple actions.

The most resilient networks start with a few simple rules and small pilot projects. Then you learn by doing. You iterate. You grow something solid from the ground up.

5. Learn from Stumbles ⛰️

We’re taught that failure…

• Is bad

• Something to hide

• Is to avoid at all costs

But in a network, a "failure" is a gift.

It's information.

It's a key part of the learning process. If you’re not stumbling, you're not experimenting enough.

In other words:

A network that fears failure is a network that stops innovating.

When you reframe mistakes as learning opportunities, you create a culture of psychological safety. People are more willing to try new things and share what they learned.

So, during and after a project, hold a "Failure Debrief." Ask: "What happened? What did we learn? What will we do differently?" No blame. Just learning.

6. Cultivate Forests, Not Monocultures 🌳

Fragile systems can't bounce back after a shock.

A forest with only one kind of tree is vulnerable to a single disease.

A resilient network is like a diverse forest.

It has many different types of connections and ideas. If one pathway gets blocked, there are a dozen others.

Diversity is natural and a superpower.

It brings in new perspectives and makes the network stronger.

When you have a rich mix of people and ideas, the network can respond to unexpected changes.

So, encourage redundancy. Instead of putting all your resources in one project, let a few groups work on similar problems.

7. Move Like a River 🏞️

In a linear, top-down model feedback is slow and clunky.

An annual survey.

A formal review.

But a living system needs constant feedback to adapt.

A river adjusts its flow with every turn and every rock. Your network needs that same kind of real-time information.

A network that can't sense what's happening will become brittle.

By building in simple, frequent feedback loops, you create a system that learns and responds.

This isn't about formal reporting.

But about creating continuous, low-stakes opportunities to learn.

So, cultivate a "learning-out-loud" culture. Encourage people to share their wins and challenges in a shared space, so everyone can learn together.

Weaving it all Together 🧵

Ultimately, an emergent approach is about letting go of control.

In the words of adrienne maree brown:

Opening to emergence means unlearning the grasp that dominant ways of being, doing & learning through practices, such as:

1. Critical Connections, Not Critical Mass

2. Be a Gardener, Not a CEO

3. Be Like Water

4. Small, Simple & Steady

5. Learn from Stumbles

6. Cultivate a Forest, Not a Monoculture

7. Move Like a River

That’s it!

In community,

Adrian

PS: Thanks for reading! ❤️ Let me know what I can improve or what you want to learn about. I am just one email away!

Learn more about Emergence in Impact Networks

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