By David Brown
Those hardy souls who spend hours outside in driving rain and freezing cold. Those who use their skills to keep structures strong and resilient while they are being built or undergoing renovation, those who adapt to suit unique circumstances and varied landscapes.
But scaffolds and scaffolders aren’t only important for buildings. Here’s why…
Years ago, as a trainee teacher, I was introduced to the work of a Russian psychologist called Lev Vygotsky. Vygotsky suggested the importance of a different kind of scaffolding, linked to something he called The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).
The ZPD is the gap between what you can do now and what you could do with the right support. Working with children, Vygotsky noted that in this gap learners need a scaffolding structure in order to make progress. Such a structure provides both practical support and psychological safety.
So, scaffolding is the best way to create a bridge between what is currently known and what is unknown.
As you’ll know if you’re a regular reader of these blogs or are steeped in the art and science of Functional Fluency, The Functional Fluency Model is also a scaffold, a kind of framework bridging the gap from where you are now to where you want to be. A framework that:
makes transformation possible
and…
The polycrisis is a complex web of global issues — environmental, social, economic, and political — that are happening at the same time and interacting in unpredictable ways. But it’s not just that there are multiple crises. It’s that they collide and compound one another.
These systemic crises show up as:
And a whole host of other negative impacts that threaten the survival of our species.
There are many reasons why humanity has reached this tipping point and there are many possible reactions to it.
Often, for example, when we believe there’s nothing we can do, we turn on each other, blaming and shaming because someone has bought a coffee in a take-away cup, is driving around in a 4x4 or is taking regular short haul flights instead of travelling by train.
While there are lots of great reasons not to do these things, one thing I know for sure is that blame won’t solve the issues humanity faces. We’ve tried that and discovered that it leads to polarisation and deep mistrust.
At a time when we should be coming together, blame is forcing us apart.
So, what’s the hopeful alternative that is going to transform the systems we depend on and propel us into a new and brighter future?
It’s a big claim, but I believe the answer to all the world’s ills is Functional Fluency. We all need to find our piece of the jigsaw and, using Functional Fluency, become scaffolders committed to building that better world.
I recently became a granddad, and when I looked into the eyes of my 7-month-old baby granddaughter, I knew I had to do something with this belief that Functional Fluency could, quite literally, save the world. I needed to set about doing my bit to create that better world. Maybe you’re in a similar position and want to create human thriving on a healthy planet. A kinder, greener, fairer world for the many, not the few. Here’s how you can do that.
I’ve put together an interactive webinar which I’ll be hosting in November. Using Functional Fluency, I’ll be demonstrating how we arrived at this point in human history and how you can recognise your own patterns, shift from friction to flow, and take purposeful action that ripples out into the systems around you.
The long term benefits are definitely going to be worth it…
The list goes on…
This isn’t about quick fixes or blaming others. It’s about equipping you with a scaffold — Functional Fluency — that helps you understand yourself, relate better to others, and step with confidence into the changes the world needs.
So, if you’re ready to see how your behaviour can influence systems, and how small, conscious shifts can create a kinder, greener, fairer tomorrow, join me for my interactive webinar: How to Create a Functionally Fluent World: A No-Blame Approach to Building a Kinder, Greener, Fairer Future on 17th November 2025 from 13:00 - 16:00 UTC/GMT.
Are you curious about becoming a ‘scaffolder’ for positive change?
We'd love to have you join us ...
