Mental Models For Managing Change - First Principles Thinking

Hi everyone, and welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

Before we dive into today’s topic, let’s quickly cover what a mental model actually is.

A mental model is simply a way of thinking — a framework that helps us understand the world, make better decisions, and solve problems more effectively. Think of it like a blueprint for how to approach challenges and navigate complexity.

Here’s a simple analogy: Imagine you are driving to a new destination. Without a map, you could easily take wrong turns, waste time, or even get lost. But with a map — your mental model — you have a clear route to follow, helping you avoid mistakes and arrive faster and with far less stress.

In the same way, mental models give us a clearer path when managing change. They help us break down complexity, anticipate obstacles, and guide us toward better outcomes.

And that brings us to today’s episode, where we’ll explore First Principles Thinking. 

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Ali Juma
@The Inner Game of Change podcast

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Hi everyone and welcome to a very special
mini-series on the inner game ofchange.
I am thrilled to take you onthis journey as we explore
something both timeless andpractical mental models for
managing change.
Before we dive into today'stopic, let's quickly cover what
a mental model actually is.
A mental model is simply a wayof thinking, a framework that

(00:33):
helps us understand the world,make better decisions and solve
problems more effectively.
Think of it like a blueprintfor how to approach challenges
and navigate complexity.
Here's a simple analogy Imagineyou're driving to a new
destination.
Without a map.
You could easily take wrongturns, waste time or even get

(00:55):
lost.
But with the map your mentalmodel you have a clear route to
follow, helping you avoidmistakes and arrive faster with
far less stress.
In the same way, mental modelsgive us a clearer path when
managing change.
They help us break downcomplexity, anticipate obstacles

(01:15):
and guide us toward betteroutcomes.
And that brings us to today'sepisode, where we will explore
first principles thinking.
This is a mental model used bysome of the greatest thinkers
and innovators, from Aristotleand Richard Feynman to Elon Musk
.
It is all about stripping awayassumptions, getting down to the

(01:36):
core facts and rebuildingsolutions from the ground up.
So, whether you're leading achange in your organization or
tackling personal challenges,first principles thinking is a
tool you will want in yourmental toolkit.
Let's start with a definition.
Let's start with a definition.
First principles thinking is amethod of problem solving that

(01:59):
involves breaking down a probleminto its most basic,
fundamental truths, its firstprinciples, and building your
solution from the ground up,instead of relying on
assumptions, analogies or howthings have always been done.
This model helps you reimagineproblems in a completely fresh
way.

(02:19):
Here's where it comes from.
The concept of first principlesgoes back to Aristotle, who
defined them as foundationalbuilding blocks of knowledge.
More recently, it's beenpopularized by Elon Musk, who
credits this way of thinkingwith enabling him to
revolutionize industries likespace travel and electrical

(02:42):
vehicles.
Now here's a simple analogy.
Think of a house renovation.
Most people would take what'salready there walls, flooring,
pipes and just modify it.
But first principle thinking islike stripping everything back
to the foundation, questioningwhat is necessary and rebuilding
with only the essentialelements.

(03:03):
It is more work up front, butleads to a more innovative and
effective result.
In change management.
This approach is invaluable.
Too often, we tackle problemsby copying what others have done
or tweaking all solutions.
First principle thinking forcesus to dig deeper, ask better

(03:23):
questions and design change fromground up based on what's
fundamentally true.
Now let's talk about how youcan use first principles
thinking in your changemanagement efforts.
Imagine you're tasked withimproving employee engagement in
your organization.
The default approach might beto look at what other companies

(03:43):
are doing organizing teambuilding activities, offering
perks or running surveys butthose are assumptions.
They might work for others, butdo they address the root causes
of disengagement in yourorganization?
Here's how you can apply firstprinciples thinking.
Step one identify the coreproblem.

(04:05):
Start by asking what's thefundamental issue here, instead
of assuming disengagement isabout perks or activities.
Dig deeper.
Maybe employees feel they lackautonomy or don't see how their
work connects to theorganization's purpose.
Step two break it down to firstprinciples.

(04:28):
Ask questions like why doesdisengagement happen in the
first place?
What are the essentialingredients of engagement?
Things that must exist, nomatter the context.
You might uncover thatengagement boils down to
recognition, purpose and a senseof belonging.

(04:48):
Step 3.
Build solutions from the groundup.
Once you've identified thesefirst principles, build your
strategy from there.
For example, instead of genericperks, you might focus on
improving recognition systems oraligning team goals with the
organization's purpose oraligning team goals with the
organization's purpose.
By focusing on the fundamentals, you create solutions that are

(05:10):
tailored to your organization'sunique challenges, not just
borrowed from someone else'splaybook.
So how can you apply firstprinciples in your work?
Here are three simple steps.
To get started, ask whymultiple times, just like a
curious child.

(05:30):
Keep asking why until you getto the root cause of the issue.
For example, if employeesresist a new process, don't stop
at they don't like change.
Keep digging.
Why don't they like it?
Is it unclear?
Does it create more work, etc.
Question assumptions.
Identify the assumptions you'rerelying on and challenge them.

(05:51):
For example, if you assume thetechnology will fix inefficiency
, ask what efficiency is thetech solving?
Is there a simpler way toaddress it?
And number three rebuild fromthe ground up.
Once you have identified thecore truths, build your
solutions step by step, ensuringevery element addresses those

(06:14):
truths directly.
This might take more time upfront, but it leads to more
sustainable and effectiveresults.
By using first principlesthinking, you will not only
solve problems more effectively,but also unlock innovative
solutions that others mightoverlook.
To wrap up, first principlesthinking is one of the most

(06:35):
powerful tools for simplifyingcomplexity and solving problems
at their core.
It challenges us to go beyondassumptions, break problems down
to their fundamentals anddesign solutions that truly work
.
Here's my challenge for youThink about a problem you're
currently facing, whether it'sat work, in a project or even in

(06:56):
your personal life.
Step one take five minutes tobreak it down, using first
principles thinking.
Strip away assumptions, habits,and this is how we've always
done it thinking.
Step two ask yourself what'sthe core issue I'm trying to
solve here?
What are the fundamental facts?
I know to be true, what'sabsolutely essential to move

(07:20):
forward?
Step three use those essentialsto design a fresh, simple
solution, one that's built onfresh, simple solution, one
that's built on facts, notassumptions.
And finally, step four test it,see what works and refine it.
First principles thinking isn'ta one-off exercise.
It's a mindset you can applyagain and again to cut through

(07:47):
complexity and find smartersolutions.
Now that we have wrapped up, Iknow you've got a thought or two
spinning in your mind.
Why keep it to yourself?
Share it with me or someone whoneeds to hear it, because great
ideas grow better when they areshared.
And don't miss our next episode, where we'll explore the
influence model, a simple butpowerful way to help you

(08:09):
understand how to drive actionand inspire others to adopt
change effectively.
Remember, every change we faceis rooted in something
fundamental, a need, a belief ora possibility.
When we trace change back toits first principles, we don't
just understand it, we shape it.
Until next time, thank you.