The Way of the Bricoleur: The Courage to Be In-Process

Jonathan Reams

The “Big Idea” Summary

The Learning Loop is not just a tool, but a return to our natural state of learning; by embracing the “Bricoleur” mindset of curiosity and iteration, we transform the “fog” of leadership into a clear path of continuous evolution.

We began this journey on the shore, looking out at the “Stormy Weather” of modern leadership. We talked about the exhaustion of the “Conduit Model”—the feeling of being stuffed full of concepts yet starved for capacity. We acknowledged the “Cognitive Indigestion” that comes from trying to swallow an ocean of complexity in one gulp.

Over the last eight essays, we have built a vessel to navigate these waters.

We began by laying some background foundations, examining notions of natural learning, how leaders create the weather and the neuroscience of learning.

We then transitioned to dive into each step of the Learning Loop process. We calibrated our Compass of Discernment, moving from the fuzzy “shoulds” of socialized pressure to the high-fidelity “will” of intentional growth.

We polished our Navigator’s Lens, learning to make the granular distinctions that turn a large chunk of experience into a map of actionable coordinates.

We launched our Prototypes, embracing the clunkiness of “Inquiry-in-Action” and learning to fail fast and learn slow.

And we stepped onto the Balcony of Reflection, using the “Waterfall Flow” to turn the raw data of our errors into the gold of updated mental models.

This structure—the Learning Loop—is not a new invention. It is a remembrance. It is an attempt to slow down and make visible the natural learning process you were born with. It is how humans grow.

The Infinite Game of the Error-Collector

As we close this series, I want to invite you to shift your perspective one last time.

In the industrial model of education, an error is a verdict. It says, “You are not enough.” But in the laboratory of Natural Learning, an error is a gift. It is a “Prediction Error”—a signal from reality that your internal map needs an update.

To be an adept leader is to be a professional Error-Collector.

The Bricoleur—that handyman who makes do with whatever is at hand—does not fear the broken pipe or the leaking roof. They see it as the context where they practice their craft. In the same way, the “Bricoleur Leader” does not fear the awkward conversation, the failed strategy, or the moment of reactivity. They see these not as failures of character, but as coordinates for growth.

This shifts leadership from a “Finite Game” (where the goal is to win, to be right, to be perfect) to an “Infinite Game” (where the goal is to keep playing, keep learning, keep evolving).

The Courage to Be “In-Process”

This shift requires courage. It requires the courage to admit that we are not finished products.

Near the end of this series, I touched on the Virtuality of Self. We explored the idea that our identities—“I am an expert,” “I am a tough boss,” “I am a nice person”—are just predictive models. They are software, not monuments.

When we defend these monuments, we create the “fog” of self-deception. We justify our reactions. We blame the weather. We armour up.

But when we accept that the self is a dynamic process—a map that is constantly being redrawn—we loosen the grip of judgment. We can step onto the balcony and look at our own code. We can say, “Huh. That line of code caused me to interrupt my team member. Interesting. Let’s rewrite it.”

This is the ultimate freedom. It means you are never trapped by who you were yesterday. You are always capable of being redrawn.

The Path to Leading Clearly

This work—the work of building the capacity to learn—is the foundation. But it is not the whole house.

At Adeptify, we believe that this capacity is the bedrock for three pillars of high-impact leadership:

1. Thinking Clearly: Moving beyond cognitive biases and “downward assimilation” to see reality with higher resolution.

2. Communicating Clearly: Transmitting that reality to others without the “noise” of ego or fear.

3. Connecting Clearly: Building the “Holding Environments” where others can feel safe enough to grow.

We call this Leading Clearly. It is the next horizon of our work. And just like the Learning Loop, it is not a destination you reach; it is a practice you inhabit.

The Permanent Laboratory

You now have the tools. You have the Compass, the Lens, and the Loop. The “Laboratory of Daily Life” is open 24/7. Every meeting is a petri dish. Every email is a test tube.

But while the laboratory is everywhere, you do not have to work in it alone.

Development is a team sport. We grow faster and deeper when we have others to hold the ladder, to check our math, and to remind us to breathe when the weather gets stormy.

This is why we built Adeptify. We have designed a set of Learning Loop programs and a dedicated platform to provide the scaffolding you need to make this growth scalable and sustainable. We want to be the “hand on the seat” of your bike, helping you find your balance until you are ready to ride on your own.

Whether you join us in a formal program or simply continue to apply these essays in your own life, my hope for you is this: Keep your balcony uncluttered. Keep your compass close. And never stop collecting errors.

The Bricoleur’s Blessing

Leadership is messy. It is human. It is frustrating and beautiful and hard.

But it is also the ultimate Art of the Distinction. It is the daily practice of noticing the signal in the noise, the “will” in the “should,” and the growth in the error.

The laboratory is open.
Every conversation is a new prototype.
Every mistake is a coordinate.
Every breath is a chance to reset the compass.

Let’s see what we can build.

The Reflection Loop

The Rearview Mirror: Look back at the last few weeks. Have you noticed a shift in how you view your own “mistakes”? Do they feel heavier (judgment) or lighter (data)?

The Horizon: As we move toward “Leading Clearly,” which of the three pillars feels most urgent for you right now: Thinking, Communicating, or Connecting? Why?

The Commitment: What is one “Micro-Loop” you can commit to running every day next week? (e.g., “I will take three deep breaths before opening my email”). Write it down. Make it a contract with your future self.