How to Navigate Uncertainty with Systems Thinking - Donna Dupont

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Ever feel overwhelmed when everything seems to be changing at once?

Donna Dupont transforms that chaos into clarity using systems thinking. She spots patterns others miss and finds leverage points in complex situations that can transform how leaders make decisions under uncertainty.

With over 25 years helping organisations navigate complexity—from H1N1 and Ebola responses to NATO climate security projects—Donna brings battle-tested frameworks from the front lines of crisis management. She's won 7 government awards for excellence in policy and strategic planning, plus recognition for her award-winning research on "Anticipation in Emergency Management."

This isn't just theory though. Donna openly shares how she went from being naturally anxious to building comfort with uncertainty through deliberate practice. Her practical approach to breaking free from mental prisons will change how you see challenges and opportunities around you.

Key Talking Points:

• The "boundary principle" that prevents teams getting lost in complex systems—and why one military syndicate succeeded whilst another struggled without it
• How to take inventory of your discomfort zones and identify three key drivers of change that concern you most
• The counter-intuitive reason to share extreme scenarios—not because you believe they'll happen, but to surface hidden assumptions about the future
• Why anticipation in emergency management was just 24-48 hours, but extending time horizons could prevent repetitive crises
• The mindset assessment that determines whether teams focus on threat mitigation or opportunity leverage

Links & Resources:

• Donna's website: purplecompass.ca
• LinkedIn: Donna Dupont
• Book recommendation: "Thinking in Systems" by Donella Meadows

Today's Exercise: The Systems Pattern Scanner

This practice helps you identify hidden patterns and feedback loops in your personal or professional challenges. It builds awareness of what drives complexity whilst revealing potential intervention points.

Steps to Apply:

1. Choose one turbulent situation in your life (start small, not global challenges)
2. Ask: What's driving this pattern's growth or persistence?
3. Identify potential cascading consequences if it continues
4. Explore: Can you slow down what's driving it?
5. Consider: How might you mitigate the consequences to bring more balance?
6. Look for feedback loops—where effects become new causes
7. Practice this lens weekly until systems thinking becomes natural

Strategic Storyteller Newsletter:

This episode explores how mental models shape what we see as possible futures—and how challenging those assumptions opens new strategic options. For more insights on breaking limiting beliefs and reframing complex challenges, join my free 'Strategic Storyteller' newsletter at robdwillis.com/newsletter. Each week includes practical storytelling frameworks, personal insights, and curated resources from the podcast—all delivered in a 3-minute read.