Emergenetics London Certification - Reflections and Ideas

As part of the facilitation team at the Emergenetics International Certification session in London last week, I had a chance to not only be a part of a thought-provoking and forward thinking process but also to speak directly with six new Emergenetics Associates who will using Emergenetics in a wide variety of ways. What struck me was the diversity of how these participants would be incorporating Emergenetics into their work.

We had two trainers from a multinational, Fortune 500 company and four consultants who own their own businesses and would be utilizing Emergenetics in everything from market research to branding to business process development to self-awareness and teambuilding.

More than this wide ranging focus though were the approaches that these individuals were taking in applying Emergenetics insights to their particular needs...and more importantly the needs of their clients and colleagues. In many ways, this group embodied one of the ways that people evolve in the way they use and understand Emergenetics. What starts out as a way to know oneself emerges into, as one attendee put it, "A way of life." I say this not out of self aggrandizement, but rather as a witness of the way that people creatively find outlets to think about Emergenetics as a holistic model for understanding.

The Emergenetics Profile itself is a tool that provides insight into the way a person thinks and behaves. Emergenetics as a concept though, takes the insights (The Emergenetics Thinking and Behavioral Attributes) and creates a window through which to view the most pertinent challenges that individuals and organizations face. Let me give you a specific example...

One participant shared that they work with organizations and teams a lot on the topic of building trust. Everyone in the room acknowledged that Trust is imperative for successful organizations. So, with each participant shouting out particular examples of how someone (or an organization) could gain their trust, the class diagrammed the differences in the way different Profiles and Thinking and Behavioral factors view trust (An Analytical Thinker likely needs the logic or rationale up-front and the assurance that things will be done correctly, without mistakes - this is different than a person or organization with a focus on Relational and Social thinking, who will trust only after it is clear what will happen to all people involved).

The beauty in this model is not simply the key differences in how people understand Trust and need information, but the simple concept that Trust itself is a different thing for different people. What allows one person to Trust won't necessarily work for another person. Once organizations can understand this, the ability to gain their employees', customers', and clients' trust is more attainable.

It was a simple and intuitive understanding, but one with a potentially significant impact. I am very excited by the ideas that stemmed from our newest Emergenetics Associates and know that they will take us forward as an organization in new ways and in new places. Congrats to all who were in the class!

Mark Miller
Director of Marketing
Emergenetics International