Newsletter April 2025
25 Years, Four Elements, Countless Stories!
Welcome to our latest community newsletter and already we are a quarter of the way through our celebration year! For some, the start of a new financial year and a whole new beginning.
This month we have news of our TetraMap anniversary events around the world and hope we get the chance to catch up with some of you in person. Our focus on teams and leadership continues – this month leaning into nature – and we highlight the latest opportunities, smart tips and tricks and skilful ways of turning insights into impact.
Looking to live an Elemental life? We hear from Master TetraMap Facilitator and nature practitioner, Nikki Davey, about her latest offering – An Elemental Journey – a unique opportunity to delve deeper into our understanding of the elements and deepen your understanding of yourself and your interconnection with the web of life.
In Trust the Process we explore more from our TetraMap resources with a deeper understanding of the Nature of Teamwork. Time to dig out your Why Are WE Like That? workbook and follow our guide to cultivating your leadership skills to help you create strong teams. As a TetraMap facilitator you have the privilege of facilitating the healthy conditions needed to nurture high performance teamwork.
Our LinkedIn members may have noticed Global Brand Ambassador, Louise Duncan, has been busy collecting your all-important stories and experiences of working with TetraMap. These have come in from Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, UK, New Zealand, France and Vietnam, highlighting our international reach!
We celebrate you – our diverse and talented community, and the big and small wins. Please continue to share your stories on LinkedIn, use the hashtag #Tetra25 and tag in Louise and TetraMap International. We have a wonderful community, doing amazing work and making a bigger difference. The more we share the more we celebrate and generate good news stories. None of us is as strong as all of us!
Whatever our Element, we all need a bit of inspiration – a spark of Fire to take us to the next level. Our next level certification, the TetraMap of Leadership, is on its way. Are you ready? As a leader and entrepreneur for over 20 years TetraMap Managing Director, Madelize Bekker, has some wise words to anyone thinking about taking the next step – take a look at the bigger picture!
Dates for the diary
- April 25 – April 27: Facilitator Certification Course – Luebeck, Germany
- May 12 – May 13: Facilitator Certification Course – UK & Europe, Harrogate, England
- May 21 – May 22: Online Facilitator Certification Course – USA
Tetra25 celebrations – we now have a firm date in Berlin, 13 and 14 June – contact Anja Doil if you’d like to join us.
Various more celebration events are planned. Keep an eye out for dates in London and Singapore in September, New Zealand in November and Vietnam in December.
Master TetraMap Facilitator Raymond Yap is also continuing on his ConnecXion 25 Asia tour, celebrating Tetra25 in Hanoi, Vietnam at the end of May and Hong Kong early June. So far this year, he celebrated with CTFs in China, Japan, and Singapore.
An Elemental Journey
How can a deeper understanding of Nature’s elements make us better TetraMap facilitators and help us contribute to the systemic change that is essential for the future of people and planet?
TetraMap Master Facilitator and pioneer of nature-based learning, Nicki Davey, has the answer! She has designed a brand-new course which goes beyond our understanding of the elements as metaphor, model, or framework. An Elemental Journey is a guided journey to expand awareness and deepen understanding of the elements as they actually are in Nature.
Nicki explained: “The course involves taking a step back to look at the bigger picture – widening our awareness so that we see and understand our life support system and how it operates. How each element interacts with and is dependent on all the other elements and how these processes enable all living organisms, including us, to exist. What is the impact when we damage the connections and relationships that make up the system?
Deepening our connections with the elements
We will look more closely at nature to see and understand the detail, features, and meaning of each element. Together, we’ll explore
- the unique role each element plays
- their simultaneous power and fragility
- our personal relationship with each of the elements
- what this means for us
- what happens when any aspect of an individual element is damaged.
A new layer of facilitation
This deeper exploration brings:
- a whole new level to our facilitation of TetraMap
- a nuance, richness and depth that generates greater meaning and relevance for participants
- a richer, deeper learning experience for all.
Nicki believes that only by looking and listening carefully can we fully understand what is going on around us and how best to proceed. The Elemental Journey course offers a way of extending your view and giving conscious attention to the elements for a better understanding of the world we are entangled with.
“As TetraMap facilitators we are leaders – our words and actions make a difference to the mindsets and behaviours of others, and this programme helps us to recognise, understand, and embrace this role in line with TetraMap’s mission and values.”
“I’m really excited about this course and look forward to taking an Elemental Journey together. I can’t wait to share the power of the elements with the TetraMap community so that we can all make a difference to our participants and to the wider world through the magic, power and wisdom of Nature’s elements.”
– Nicki Davey, Master TetraMap Facilitator
The first two-hour session launches on Friday 6 June with five sessions finishing on 4 July.
Trust the Process – From Me to We: Strengthening Team Identity with TetraMap
We are different. We are valuable. Together we are stronger.
You’ve guided groups through the “Why Are You Like That?” experience, and the insights have landed. But what comes next in deepening their collective awareness?
Enter Why Are We Like That? – the natural evolution from self-discovery to team insight. Why Are We Like That? explores the Nature of Team and provides strategies to bring people together based on values, commitment, common goals and mutual accountability.
At this stage of a TetraMap journey, the focus shifts from individual preferences to the collective identity of the group. This transition is more than an activity – it’s an opportunity for teams to build trust, appreciate diversity, and align their energy and effort.
Yet, there’s one question we often overlook: How do we make the most of this moment?
The Collective Pattern is the Conversation
When participants see their team profile for the first time, it’s a moment filled with potential. But it can also trigger assumptions:
- We’ve a lot of Earth – we get things done, but we forget to look back
- Too much Fire – no wonder we overwhelm others with our ideas!
- No Air – who needs more systems; would they add value?
These are the very moments that call for reflection, not conclusion. It’s where the real learning begins.
Instead of interpreting their team graph as a label, invite teams to use it as a mirror – to see how they show up in the world, and how they could show up differently.
Try This in Your Next WAWLT Workshop:
Team Insight Reflection Questions.
Page 11 of the Why are WE Like That? workbook offers some great starting points to explore as a team:
- What are the team’s strengths and why are they important?
- How could we better use those strengths?
- What risks do our lowest scoring Elements imply?
- What can we do to minimise these risks?
You can also create your own reflection questions, such as:
- What strengths are visible in our current team pattern?
- What might we be missing or undervaluing?
- When does this pattern help us? When might it hinder us?
- What could we do to flex our less-preferred elements more often?
These questions help teams move from “That’s just how we are.” to “How do we want to be together?”
Use the Metaphor Cards Differently
Metaphor cards aren’t just for individuals. They’re powerful team tools.
Ask groups to choose a metaphor for their team as it is now – then a second one for how they want to be. The comparison can surface gaps in culture, values, and aspirations.
This could be a highlight moment: the group sees itself not just in stats, but in stories.
Keep The Shift Going
The WAWLT workshop opens the door to culture work. Consider following up with activities or coaching conversations that explore:
- Team rituals that reflect all four elements: Does the team regularly come together in a way that feels energising (Fire), thoughtful (Air), caring (Water), and productive (Earth)? Even a check-in ritual can take on more meaning when consciously shaped by all four.
- Decision-making processes: Who speaks first? Who gets heard? Invite reflection on whether meetings give space for every elemental voice. Earth may offer the practical concerns, Air may offer strategy, Water emotions, and Fire bold ideas – are all being valued?
- Feedback habits: Is feedback shared only when there’s a problem? Or is it built into the team’s rhythm as a way to grow together? Use the elemental lenses to explore how feedback can be given and received more constructively: clear and timely (Earth), reflective (Air), compassionate (Water), and encouraging (Fire).
By using the WAWLT insights as a starting point – not a conclusion – you build the bridge from individual understanding to intentional team culture. Culture is not what’s written on the wall; it’s how the team behaves when no one is watching. WAWLT helps bring that into focus.
Trust the Process. Let the team lead the learning.
TetraMap Community Stories
To celebrate our 25-year anniversary Global Brand Ambassador, Louise Duncan, has been busy collecting your all-important stories and experiences of working with TetraMap. It is striking how certain themes come through time and again – the simplicity of TetraMap, and its strength in improving communication. We look at two recent stories that highlight how communication is so easily improved with the help of TetraMap.
In New Zealand Brent Westein celebrated 25 Years of TetraMap with a double TetraMap day – he delivered two TetraMap sessions in one day in completely different settings! What leaps out is how both sessions reinforced the power of understanding communication styles in different ways.
“Seeing TetraMap in action across different environments reinforces its power in unlocking better conversations, stronger relationships, and higher performance.”
Brent Westein, Certified TetraMap Facilitator
In the first session, Brent rolled TetraMap out across an entire team and immediately noticed the impact of stronger one-to-one conversations, more effective team meetings, and deeper self-awareness. The second session had a different slant – introducing TetraMap to enhance mentor-mentee relationships and creating a safe, shared language that fosters trust and understanding. By recognising each other’s unique styles, mentors and mentees can build a solid foundation for meaningful, impactful connections.
Louise commented: “Brent was certified in 2013 and over the years has taken TetraMap International into many different types of organisations and community groups he works with. He has been a strong advocate and ambassador of TetraMap and knows to trust the process and get the best out of TetraMap!”
When it comes to helping resolve conflict, Barbara Golja in Slovenia uses nature and the metaphor of stormy weather to reflect on how feedback can go badly wrong – something many of us will have experienced. Each person processes feedback differently and the key is knowing how to adapt – and how to harness the power of TetraMap.
Barbara said: “Feedback has the power to build people up – or create tension that lingers like a storm on the horizon. Have you ever given feedback that didn’t land well? Sometimes, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. Like the weather, conversations can shift in an instant. Finding the right approach and the unique mix that shapes your team’s communication style is the key.”
Louise is delighted to see how TetraMap and having nature as a metaphor has helped Barbara and her clients: “It’s part of our vision to reduce conflict – both in the workplace and at home, and being in nature supports us to reflect on tricky times. Thank you, Barbara for helping your clients to navigate the turbulence and find the calm with the help of TetraMap.”
To share your stories on LinkedIn, use the hashtag #Tetra25 and tag in Louise and TetraMap International.
Looking At The Bigger Picture
Madelize Bekker, Managing Director at TetraMap International, has a gift for combining images from nature with the Elements and TetraMap wisdom. In a recent post on LinkedIn, Madelize takes a view of New Zealand’s famous Cathedral Cove and shares the learning about leadership in a simple and inspiring way.
“Leadership is about framing possibilities – balancing stability with vision, and adaptability with passion, to inspire growth and success. Looking at the picture of Cathedral Cove reminds me that leadership often requires us to step back, reframe, and see the bigger picture. Just like looking through this natural arch to the horizon, gaining perspective can reveal opportunities we might otherwise miss. But it is not always easy to step back – we often have to make a conscious effort to achieve this.
“Great leaders balance vision with being grounded – creating space for clarity, adaptability, and purposeful action.”
Reflect on the picture of Cathedral Cove and Madelize’s inspiration from Nature:
Earth: Stability and Structure
Look at the solid rock formations as a representation of stability and structure, we could compare them to the values, systems, and strategies that provide strength during uncertain times.
What core values anchor your leadership? Are they strong enough to support your team through challenges?
Air: Expansive Thinking and Clear Communication
The open horizon visible in the distance might represent expansive thinking and clear communication such as acting on our vision and turning it into a shared purpose.
Do you have a vision that is shared clearly? Are you actively encouraging your team to contribute ideas that expand possibilities?
Water: Moving and Shaping
The tide reminds us that resilience doesn’t mean standing still – it’s about moving with change and shaping what’s next.
How well do you navigate change, and are you helping your team stay flexible and focused?
Fire: Passion and Energy
The bright sunlight highlights passion and energy – the drive to inspire action and move forward with purpose.
What inspires you as a leader, and how are you energising your team to stay motivated and focused?
You can read the whole series of Nature and Leadership posts from Madelize on LinkedIn.
Taking The Next Step
If you are looking to take the next step don’t forget our TetraMap Master Facilitator programme begins in June and runs until October – or sign up for our next step level of Certification, the TetraMap of Leadership.