Sonja Blignaut: being a waysfinder in a complex world
Do you experience our world as secure and predictable, or find it overwhelming and anxiety provoking? “Complexity nerd” Sonja Blignaut considers how AfrikaBurn mirrors life’s complexity, becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable, the difference between complicated and complex systems, and developing 4 meta-skills aimed at thriving in an entangled world.
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In ep. 214 of the weekly podcast series Calm, Clear and Helpful, Sonja Blignaut - founder of More Beyond, “complexity nerd,” waysfinder, artist and scientist - considers
living in an unpredictable, complex and entangled world, including unprecedented elements like instant connectivity and intelligent machines
how our unpredictable, complex and entangled world influences us personally
how the complex times we live in affect our work lives (and impact companies and leaders)
a wait and see attitude in the business world
how “normal” feeling anxious has become
Sonja’s experience of AfrikaBurn, including
*how being unable to control or predict, stresses the need to embrace uncertainty and the unknown
*relating to others in ways different from those in the “default world”
*experiencing the transience of life
*how stepping out of your need to plan can lead to serendipity
becoming a waysfinder: making the path as you walk instead of looking for existing paths to follow
why there is an “s” in waysfinding
the difference between complicated and complex systems
4 meta-skills enabling complexity fitness: Courage, Openness, Observing and Lightness (COOL)
how applied mindfulness practice, including breath work, relates to COOL.
In this episode, Sonja quotes Zak Stein and Michael J. Meade and mentions her colleague Mirjam van Vliet.
Scroll down for more info on Sonja, including her contact details.
An extract from Sonja’s LinkedIn post on AfrikaBurn, mentioned in this episode:
Going to the Burn is edgy.
It’s an event that’s deeply misunderstood by many—almost stigmatised. In some circles you face instant judgement for going.
It’s physically uncomfortable—being completely self-sufficient in the dusty heat of the desert.
It’s sensory overload—colours, lights, music. An explosion of creative self-expression.
There’s no plan, no shops and no connectivity. Just a week of being radically present with what’s in front of you: serendipity, emergence, aliveness.
It’s a deep dive into the unknown, an embrace of uncertainty, ambiguity, and entangled complexity. A place where what you do, what you know, and what you own… doesn’t matter. Here it is about connecting deeply as humans, not as roles.
This isn’t just a festival. It’s a field of practice.
I come to play, to experience, to stretch.
I do this to remain congruent with my message:
That complexity is life.
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More about Sonja
Sonja is “a complexity nerd, waysfinder, artist and scientist” who initially studied meteorology. She founded More Beyond in 2004, before which she worked as a consultant at PWC and IBM.
Apart from coaching corporates, groups as well as individuals - in person or online - Sonja trains and lectures internationally in complexity and related topics at various academic institutions and business schools. She has appeared at various Agile Summits, OD Conferences, and TedX Pretoria. She is a partner in Complexity Fit, the ex-CEO of The Cynefin Company, and a qualified coach in various individual and team modalities.
Sonja’s services include Management Consulting, Leadership Development, Executive Coaching, Corporate Training, Public Speaking, Team Building, Business Consulting and Blogging. She is based in Pretoria.
Email address: sonja@morebeyond.co.za
Tel. +27 82 338 7495
Websites: https://www.morebeyond.co.za/ and https://complexityfit.com
Blog: https://sonjablignaut.medium.com/
LinkedIn: Sonja Blignaut
Instagram: Sonja Blignaut
The free podcast series Calm, Clear & Helpful is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Player FM and Iono.fm - I hope you’ll subscribe!
Original music by Mart-Marie Snyman
Thumbnail image: Unsplash. Model used.
Photograph of Sonja Blignaut: supplied.