Welcome to Every Little Model
There’s a famous quote from the British statistician George Box that says “all models are wrong, but some are useful”. For more than two decades, this has been a useful mantra as we work to help others navigate the complexity of change in their work and thrive in the ambiguity of a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) world.
Welcome to Every Little Model’s Medium companion to the ELM podcast.
In our podcast we (Tricia Conyers, John Norcross) explore the models that we have found most useful and impactful in our lives as change practitioners. In fact, it’s our mission to share with you the secrets hidden within these models that can unleash our collective best at work.
We believe that every little model has a story to tell.
Now, just in case anyone is confused, let’s be clear — when we say “models”, we are not talking about the Cindy’s, Naomi’s, or Kate’s of the fashion world. We’re talking about the perhaps less famous models created by the inspiring minds of organizational psychologists, academics and consultants — the models or frameworks that can help us make sense of organizational life and ignite new thinking around the challenges we face.
Now let’s go back to that quote from George box. What did he mean when he said “all models are wrong, but some are useful”?
Well, think of models like a pair of glasses with specialty lenses. Once you set them on, they allow you to see things differently to what your naked eyes would see. They completely shifted your perspective. Suddenly you’re tuned in to observations that you might have missed. And these observations can lead to insights and ideas that otherwise would lie dormant. But the lens matters, switch the lens and you shift what you see and the insights you gain.
This podcast is for everyone and anyone looking for inspiration around challenges that they face at work. They might be the type of challenges where you feel like you’ve tried everything and where you’re not sure what to do next, or perhaps they’re challenges that just leave you with a feeling that something’s untapped or could be better.
Each month, we feature a model that challenged (and changed) our thinking and helped us reframe situations during our time as changed practitioners. These models will touch on a range of topics from leadership skills and styles to unleashing the potential and possibility in others to navigating the intricacies of the change journey. We try our best to bridge the gap between theory and practice and share our personal experiences with these models.
It’s also our dream to feature the creators authors and thought leaders of models on our podcast and hear them share the intent, secrets and stories behind their models. We also hope to feature listeners who’ve had a perspective-shifting experience with a model or framework. It’s our hope that, by listening to this podcast, you will be inspired with new ideas and insights around those sticky and tricky challenges that keep you up at night.
Check out our Every Little Model podcast or reach out to us directly at hello@everylittlemodel.com to share your insights and experiences with the models and frameworks that help you make sense of your organization and your world.
