If the team is a living system, then its evolution follows natural cycles of development and renewal, with its phases of gestation, birth, maturity, and creative transformation. This is the model that the “ecocycle”, inspired by Liberating Structures (ref.), invites us to explore.

This model constitutes a powerful visual canvas to stimulate reflection on the evolutionary dynamics of a system, whether large or small. It offers great analytical flexibility. One can choose to place it at the level of the organization as a whole, to focus it on a specific team, or even to apply it to just one of the 18 factors to reflect on related practices. Similarly, one can position oneself as an individual or leader at the center of the “ecocycle” and use it as a mirror to evaluate the evolution of one's own skills and interactions, making this model a valuable support for reflection and personal development.

“The ”ecocycle" takes up the natural cycle found in all components in nature and structures into four phases main:

• maturity (Continue) corresponds to processes and activities that are going well, (like a tree whosefruits nourish the’environment); ;
• creative transformation: (Stop) This composting or destruction phase frees up resources for new initiatives; ;
• gestation: (Ideas / Awaiting launch) refers to the "idea box" of potential future projects, waiting to be launched and to have resources injected into them; ;
• birth: (Starting) refers to the underlying dynamics of new projects or activities, requiring energy and attention to find their cruising speed.

The model also includes two types of "trap":

• the poverty trap is located between gestation and birth. It concerns valuable elements that are under-invested due to lack of resources or support ;
• the rigidity trap is found between maturity and creative transformation. It contains obsolete activities or processes that unnecessarily consume time, energy, and resources.

The Ecocycle model invites you to ask yourself the following questions:

As leaders/teams, what practices & activities:

• Are we already doing and are mature?
• Which ones would we like to stop or transform?
• Which ones are in gestation?
• Which ones would we like to bring into being?
• What could be our pitfalls and how to avoid them?
  

We would be happy to accompany you in a deeper exploration of this powerful tool that is “the ”ecocycle” and exercises concrete implementation with your team. Contact us to discuss it and co-develop a tailor-made seminar to meet your needs.

If you wish to train in our approach to change management and facilitation, we invite you to join us at one of our upcoming Certified Train-the-Trainer Course.

During our MeetUp Actitudes of 2025, we were able to Experience this Ecocycle in real life (and in nature), with the group present. A small sharing in pictures:

Listen to the Inspiring Interview with Etienne Collignon, Specialist in learning organizations, author of the book "The Learning Team" and internationally recognized, tell us about his discovery of the Ecocycle during this immersive MeetUp Actitudes day: