Flow + Feedback Map
Mycelial Network Mapping
Biological Model: Mycelial Networks. Mycelium is a living network that moves nutrients, water, and chemical signals through interconnected filaments. It continuously senses local conditions (stress, scarcity, opportunity) and adjusts distribution—routing resources toward need and away from depletion—without a central controller.
This tool emulates that strategy by mapping one "flow" through your human system and then mapping how signals are sensed, shared, and acted on, so the network can reroute and respond instead of losing people, information, or resources in dead zones.
When to Use
- • Things getting stuck, lost, or delayed
- • Multi-team handoff problems
- • Coalition coordination issues
- • Rapid scaling challenges
Time Required
- • 90 minutes (recommended)
- • 120 min if multi-org
- • Or emotionally charged
Who Should Participate
- • 4-12 people from each node
- • At least one frontline person
- • Someone with pilot authority
- • Facilitator + note-taker
Objectives
- • Make the system visible
- • Reveal bottlenecks
- • Identify feedback gaps
- • Design a 2-week pilot
Ready to facilitate a session?
The full facilitation takes 90 minutes. You'll be guided through each phase with a timer. Or fill out the canvas at your own pace below.
Session Phases
Step 1: Choose ONE Flow
What type of "nutrient" is moving through your system that you want to map?
2-Week Review Reflection Prompts
- • Where did flow improve most?
- • What new dead zone appeared?
- • Did signals reach the right decision point fast enough?
- • What should we keep, adjust, or stop?
Iteration Options
- • If improvement is real: Extend the pilot or scale to the next most painful dead zone.
- • If improvement is unclear: Tighten the signal definitions or shorten the response rhythm.
- • If trust dropped: Add a legitimacy/consent check before continuing.