The Four Ways Model, which serves as the core evidence-base for the human development work of the Your Authentic Self Work initiative, incorporates findings from research focusing on individual sensemaking through the type of social change that impacts institutional culture and individual identity alike. That is, the methods, processes and even capacities exhibited by individuals for making meaning out of their environmental contexts was the primary, driving inquiry agenda for this research. While this research commenced as an approach toward describing and mapping organizational change, it was the story of individuals in transition that emerged as the defining narrative that shaped the outcomes of this research.

The themes and domains that emerged from this work point toward a need for ongoing dialectical inquiry within social frameworks regarding both group and individual adaptability to change effects—rather than dichotomy, which is representative of the ongoing imbalance between the perspectives of various tribal factions within a social space. Dialectic is the co-constructed dialogue between two or more parties that aims toward a deterministic, social construction of reality. This requires harnessing multiple perspectives within the dialogue and maintaining a core context in which to organize and integrate diverse perspectives, which can enable developmental research in ways that inform holistic growth.

Arguing for such a developmental context and holistic approach does not necessarily mean arguing for a grand unified narrative or theory on social paradigm shift. Rather, the outcomes of the original study advocated for localized explorations of the intersections among diverse members across social groups that can inform individual and group development from multiple perspectives. It is also essential to be able to openly identify and examine the tensions among these perspectives that can negate holistic growth. As was the case through the initial research, it became clear that creating one grand theory of holistic development was not possible given the varied cultural contexts of of diverse social groups, even within a larger parental system framework. However, considering themes that emerge through the dialectic process that can inform a holistic view of development is a very workable means through which stakeholders within individual social groups can consider their own change dynamics.

There is a need for holistic perspective on social change as there are not many theoretical frameworks that exist to examine and understand this type of comprehensive systemic change. Although research on particular aspects of change effects like leadership development or human capital retention may be important, grounding such examination in a more holistic inquiry that incorporates social context and epistemological, intrapersonal, and interpersonal developmental dimensions would contribute to creating more holistic theories of social change.

Approaching the particular dimensions or the particular aspects of the intersection of person and group context through a larger holistic perspective can help to organize change dynamics into a coherent whole rather than the numerous “families” or separate silos into which they are currently organized. This integrative approach is what has informed the development of the Four Ways Model.  Intentional exploration of the intersections among developmental dimensions is crucial to understanding the activity of meaning making among a particular group’s members. The Four Ways Model is comprised of the following themes that form a rubric through which we can examine the dynamics of individual and group change, providing four specific change vectors (Modes of Reasoning and Transition; Tribal Cultures and Structures) that can help define how change is happening, as well as a vocabulary with which we can define change impacts:

Ways of Seeing describe individual Modes of Reasoning

Ways of Doing describe group Modes of Transition

Ways of Being describe Tribal Cultures within the group

Ways of Building describe Tribal Structures that form the group

This model can be used to assess individuals’ responsiveness in making meaning of their experience within a group as well as how they create their social realities within the group. The primary themes that describe individuals’ experiences through social change—the Ways of Seeing, Being, Doing and Building—can be used to examine an individual’s response to social change and frame the formation of a type of cooperative that helps individuals within a group make sense of their changing expectations, priorities and pathways.  This is the core premise of the Four Ways Model.