OR turn a problem into a game
š” EXPLAining THE PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLE
After the night, comes the day. The day opens the door to the night.
This transition illustrates the paradox of nature: a permanent change. In other words, natureās sustainability is guaranteed by its perpetual evolution.
This new permaculture principle invites us to embrace a double posture:
see change as an ally rather than a threat,
proactively invent a new plan in response to unexpected developments.
After the rain, the rainbow reminds us that even though change can be frightening as it is beyond our control, it can also be a source of magic and beauty.
š ILLUSTRATing THE permaculture PRINCIPLE APPLIED TO A MISSION OF TRANSFORMATION
A client - whom I'll call Stephane - experience the veracity of this principle.
Our coaching mission aimed to foster a dynamic of cohesion and innovation within his organization, in order to contribute to market challenges responsibly and sustainably.
His reality was different. He was going through a time of chaos with his team and his company. It was a time of restructuring, with departures that were not well planned or executed. Everything appeared to be falling apart.
When exploring the possibility of finding opportunity at the heart of change, he was skeptical about the approach: "You coaches are idealistic with your fine words and great enthusiasm for seeing the positive at every corner. But this has its limits. We risk going into denial and losing the trust of our employeesā.
He pointed out an absolutely crucial blind spot.
The idea is not to say that a change is necessarily positive, nor is it to put on a filter to see life as being rosy when pain surrounds and consumes us.
The challenge is much more complex. It is to accept that our plans may change which can cause pain and fear. The challenge is to grasp the hidden messages. This step allows us to proactively turn instability into an attractive fertile opportunity. This requires real effort.
Together, we made a mental effort to imagine what opportunities and benefits could be created from the ambient swamp. However, we found several lotus flower seeds.
With his team and his company, Stephane was able to refocus on the essentials: the motivation and loyalty of humans that make up the company. Together, they were able to allow themselves to rethink the mission and operational applications of their company. Together, they felt a sense of solidarity, and became the changeleaders of their future. They created sparks of possibilities in the dark night.
After a while, he came back to me and said: "Turning a challenge into a playground for discovery is difficult but worth it.ā
š TIPS TO GET MOVING
Here is a wonderful book that illustrates the power of a collective intelligence in the face of the most threatening changes in business:
"Daring to trust, remarks on the commitment of leadersā
- Bertrand Martin, Vincent Lendhart and Bruno Jarrosson.
Bertrand Martin's singular story traces the recovery of the Sulzer company, thanks to a spectacular liberation of the energies of the actors on the ground.
Here is another proposal for shifting perspectives and generating action:
We can look at the storms in our path with fatality and despair.
Alternatively, we can consider the obstacles we encounter as thorns in our side: alerts that energize us to look carefully at the cause of the pain in order to release it and proceed serenely.
Over to you:
What are the major sources of resistance in your current mission?
How can they be levers to engineer the desired change?
āSustainable development and climate change are two sides of the same coinā
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As a reminder, I am creating a series on the the parallel between the 12 operational principles of permaculture and conditions for sustainable transformations of organizational systems. Here is the 1st post, the 2nd one, the 3rd one, the 4th one, the 5th one, the 6th one and 7th one. Today we address the 8th principle. If you are a professional changemaker, committed to promoting a better society, these principles and insights should help you maximize your impact and inner serenity.
Hello Changemakers!
I am Nina, an impact maker coach, specializing in leadership and sustainable transformation.
I have spent the past 10 years leading sustainable change in a Fortune 500 organization in a multicultural environment. What I like to do through my activities is to inspire organizations professionals to rethink the business and make them proud to contribute, in their own way, to a more sustainable, human, and nature-friendly world.
If you wish to be supported to progress on your journey with multiplied impact and ease, contact me!