OR activaTE the power of complementary relationships
💡 EXPLAining THE PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLE
In nature, the diversity of species can be a source of competition as well as mutual enrichment.
Contrary to popular belief, mutual aid is more widespread than war between species because it secures life.
"Raising a few ducks where salads are planted is the best remedy against slugs - which ducks love. The ducks' manure naturally enriches the soil where salads can flourish with ease."
Le Guide de l'Entrepreneur Durable – Solène Pignet
Diversity can also be a solution to competition. For instance, monocultures lead to the problem where the same plants vie for access to the same available resources.
🔍 ILLUSTRATing THE permaculture PRINCIPLE APPLIED TO A MISSION OF TRANSFORMATION
Everyone discusses diversity in business today.
No one would openly dare to question it.
But in reality the implementation of diversity often falls short of expectations.
Why is this? Simply because our cognitive biases lead us to think that a group that looks alike will have an easier time understanding each other and will be quicker in making decisions.
Which leader, initiating a change, has never said to himself that it would be easier if everyone thought like him and recognized the interest of his initiative? As much as I value the power of diversity, I plead guilty. I remember hoping for everyone to think like me when I was exhausted from the resistance I faced in trying to integrate a carbon price into all business development decisions.
Yet, deep down, we know that making a mental effort to overcome our cognitive barriers towards diversity is worth the effort.
We actually value diversity when it suits us. The phrase ‘never put all your eggs in one basket' is often applied to avoid depending solely on a customer, a product, a supplier, or a colleague in times of difficulty.
As in nature, diversity within organizations can be a source of tension or enrichment. It is up to us to make the conscious choice of the side to support.
“Our ability to achieve unity in diversity will be the beauty and test of our civilization”
concrete example to activate the power of diversity
The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the best known and most frequently used personality indicator in the world. Knowing one's MBTI type not only allows one to understand how one perceives the world and interacts with it, but also to clarify one's motivations and those of others.
In organizations and teams, exploring the different MBTI types is often a source of cohesion and performance because it facilitates a better mutual understanding, a more fluid communication and an invigorating distribution of roles.
An organization that has to draw a new roadmap integrating sustainability into the heart of the business can leverage the talents of its employees based on their spontaneous reactions to change:
The early adopters will drive change by sharing their enthusiasm because for them 'change is stimulating'.
Some will provide a clear and invigorating vision to engage all participants around a common goal.
Others will facilitate the implementation of change by asking "what is broken" and clarifying the urgency to act.
Finally, through their analysis and attention to details, some will ensure the feasibility and relevance of change with regard to the dysfunction in question.
🐝 TIPS TO GET MOVING
You can easily explore the MBTI questionnaire individually and in groups. Here is a site with several videos and explanations. Should you want to be assisted in this process, you can contact me, as I am certified MBTI practioner.
These questions will help stimulate the benefits of diversity for the success of your project:
What strengths do I want to activate?
What value could I add?
What activities will I avoid?
Who are the people best able to perform the activities I would avoid?
How can we make our differences an advantage in this project?
“Nature makes men similar, life makes them different”
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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, 7th one and 8th one.
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!