OR ASSOCIATE TO MULITPLY IMPACT
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. Today we address the 5th 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.
💡 EXPLANATION OF THE PERMACULTURE OPERATING PRINCIPLE
Nature in its preserved state is much more like the free-flowing English gardens than geometric French gardens.
Rational thinking leads us to want to separate the elements of an ecosystem to create an artificial 'order'. But the sustainability of nature depends more on the interconnection between species than on competition.
Illustration of the principle of symbiosis - "The sea anemone will get a surplus of food from the clown fish, which gets its protection in return.”
- Intelligence Collective, Co-créons en conscience le monde de demain (Collective Intelligence, Let's consciously co-create the world of tomorrow) p. 62
🔍 ILLUSTRATION OF THE PRINCIPLE APPLIED TO A MISSION OF TRANSFORMATION
Why get locked into a competitive and siloed logic when we need every part of a whole to engage in a sustainable transformation of organizations?
Once an executive told me how tensions between teams were reduced in a few months.
The sales and operations teams were constantly complaining about each other, blaming each other for their difficulties. The sales people were "selling nonsense" and the operations people were "blocking all access to information".
After a while, this boss decided to locate them side by side in the same office and encouraged them to work together to secure new business offers. A few months later, their cooperation had largely increased.
This ability to generate meaningful connections by being physically close and working on common projects has stayed with me. This principle inspired me when we launched the 'Purpose & Sustainability’ roadmap within an organization.
Eight disruptive pilot programs were co-defined by that organisation’s diverse country managers and operational people. The projects varied: innovative projects in favor of biodiversity, bonus policies linked to multifaceted performance indicators, and even the redesign of the process for developing offers.
Each entity chose the pilot project that would make it the pioneer in this field for their Zone.
After several months of work in cross-functional teams, a flagship event was organized to share feedback and decide on the future deployment of these project pilots.
I will never forget the smiles, pride, and solidarity in the eyes and faces of the united teams who presented their successes, difficulties and proposals for moving forward.
🐝 TIPS TO GET MOVING
For changemakers, it is useful to consider this principle of integration on two levels: external and internal.
Externally, all the entities positioned on your value chain can be solid partners towards the desired transformation. A supplier or a customer can help you rethink the eco-design of products for example. An NGO or a local association can help you understand the needs of the territory to bring more value.
Internally, all employees will have an impact on the organization's transformation projects. They will be a driving force and a source of innovation if they are committed. If they are indifferent or resistant to change, they will create obstacles and barriers.
How can we involve stakeholders in the organization's future?
By not forcing them, by listening to them and trusting their reality, by exchanging and proposing ideas.
How should one start?
Change your 'no' and 'yes but' into ‘yes and’.
Consider an example. Just imagine. You're talking to a colleague about your impact project and he shares his concerns with you. Instead of:
"no but you see the issue is xxx and it's super important that you understand because xxx"
you may want to try:
"yes, so I hear that you need xxx and so that gives me the idea of xxx, what do you think?”
“Stop separating yourself and separating things, (...) it’s about daring to look at how much we influence our reality and how often we reap what we sow”
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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!