What’s a “Paradigm”?
Have you ever felt stuck and unable to solve a problem that really matters to you? Understanding paradigms can help!
As with any topic, there’s a lot to learn, so I’m starting with a series of short and simple posts to clarify some foundational concepts. Today, we’re exploring, “What’s a ‘Paradigm’”? (Click here for the video)
A Brief History
The term “paradigm” has been around since the 15th century, but became better known through the work of Thomas Kuhn and his seminal book published in 1962, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Kuhn’s wisdom around paradigms developed in the field of science.
The concept of paradigms was later brought into the domain of business and beyond by the futurist, Joel Barker. His book, Paradigms: The Business of Discovering the Future, was published in the early 1990’s.
Definition
There are many different definitions for the term “paradigm”. To get us started, let’s focus on Joel Barker’s description:
“A paradigm is a set of rules and regulations, written or unwritten, that do two things:
1. It establishes or defines boundaries, and
2. It tells you how to behave inside the boundaries in order to be successful.”
~Joel Barker, Paradigms:The Business of Discovering the Future
Relax, It’s Only a Game!
If the term “paradigm” feels a bit too abstract, it can be helpful to think of paradigms as being like a game:
“A paradigm, in a sense, tells you that there is a game, what the game is, and how to play it successfully. The idea of a game is a very appropriate metaphor for paradigms because it reflects the need for borders and directions on how to perform correctly. A paradigm tells you to play the game according to the rules.”
~Joel Barker, Paradigms:The Business of Discovering the FutureParadigms & “Success”
Paradigms & “Success”
Better understanding paradigms can be helpful to people who feel stuck and unable to solve a problem. But how? Remember: “Paradigms help us know how to behave inside boundaries in order to be successful.” But what do we mean by “success”?
“For most situations, success is easily measured by your ability to solve problems, problems from trivial to profound.”
~Joel Barker, Paradigms:The Business of Discovering the Future
So paradigms guide us in knowing how to do things in order to be successful ~ to know how to solve problems ~inside the defined boundaries. (We’ll be returning to the topic of “Paradigms & Problems” in later posts, as this is really important to understand.)
In a sense, tennis and football are two different paradigms, or systems of information. They each have their own distinct objectives, expectations of behavior, and tools and skills necessary for success. Imagine how unsuccessful you might feel if you were using the “tennis paradigm” in a space where football is the name of the game!
Summary:
- Paradigms (1) define boundaries, and (2) tell us how to behave in order to be successful (ie, to solve problems within a defined boundary).
- Success relates to your ability to solve problems.
- Paradigms can feel easier to wrap your head around when you begin to think of them as being like a game.
Remember!
Works Referenced:
- Paradigms:The Business of Discovering the Future, by Joel Barker
- The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, by Thomas Kuhn
