Academy of Understanding
PEOPLE SKILLS FOR GLOBAL CITIZENS
Education. Health care. Government.Businesses.
Tel: +31 (0) 6 8100 1374
The Four Modes
Four-Part Harmony
There are four ways to approach just about everything.
Four modes of thinking.
Four ways of doing.
Four ways of communicating.
Four approaches to solving problems.
Four ways to get things done.
Together, they create a full-circle view of what it means to be human -a harmony that brings our thinking, acting, and relating into balance.The more you develop your own four-part harmony, the easier life becomes.You’ll feel more at ease and in tune.You connect more naturally, become more versatile and creative, find the right tone and arguments, and reach the people and goals you’re aiming for more effectively.
The Academy of Understanding has practically patented this idea of four-part harmony.
Over the years, we’ve refined each of the four modes into practical, accessible tools that help people —from age 8 to 108 —navigate daily life with more clarity and joy.
Four-part harmony is woven into many of our programs, because we see it as a form of everyday life wisdom.
And for specific goals, we offer targeted masterclasses where the four modes are explored in depth, practiced actively, and fine-tuned in your own unique style.
Communicating in Four-Part Harmony
A masterclass for communication professionals and for anyone who regularly communicates with diverse audiences in their work.
Learn to speak and write in the tone of the four modes, using arguments that fit each mode’s logic and emotional register.
The grand finale: communicating in four-part harmony, simultaneously.
What you’ll learn in just one or two days (and will further improve, inspired by our micro-learning follow-up) will enrich your communication palette for life.
Leadership in Four-Part Harmony
Thinking in four-part harmony means approaching challenges, questions, and opportunities with a full 360-degree perspective.
It also helps you, as a leader, to connect more easily and motivate more effectively - because you’ll know how to inspire, give feedback, and divide responsibilities in four distinct, situationally tuned ways.
Both aspects are at the heart of this hands-on, insightful masterclass.
You’ll also learn how to spot the early signs of burnout in each of the four modes - and how to help prevent them.
Change in Four-Part Harmony
You rarely hear change consultants or transformation managers talk about this. Yet, not knowing it is the hidden cause of a world of resistance, delay, and failure.
There are four different ways in which people lie awake at night, brace themselves, or engage with change. Yes, resistance, fears, and motivators each have their own melodies.
In this masterclass, you’ll discover how those seemingly opposing forces can be addressed simultaneously, allowing you to offer both reassurance and perspective across the organization, in four-part harmony.
A modest investment that can generate exceptional results. Combined with a Circle of Understanding Change, for all employees concerned, you will be amazed how easy it can be to create change-readiness and -willingness.
Teaching in Four-Part Harmony
Whether you teach in primary, secondary, or higher education: how often do teachers feel they just can’t seem to reach certain students?
In over 80% of the cases, the key is four-part harmony. If you’re used to giving calm, structured, detailed instructions, your more playful, creative, and expressive students might simply tune out.
This masterclass teaches you the art — and ease — of four-part harmony in the classroom, giving each student what they need, in the voice they can hear.
Teaching has never felt this connected — or this fun.
And the additional Circle of Understanding will help you broaden and deepen your experience.