The Donella Meadows Leverage Points

Donella Meadows’ leverage points are strategic spots within a complex system—like an economy or environment—where small changes can produce significant, lasting improvements. These points include things like adjusting goals, changing the rules, or shaping mindset and culture. For example, altering a company’s incentive structure or redefining societal values can create far-reaching effects. The idea is to identify and act on these high-impact points to effectively influence systemic behavior, rather than just treating symptoms or making minor tweaks. This approach helps us address root causes and foster more sustainable, resilient systems.