3rd Principle - "Obtain a production"

OR THE NEED TO EXPERIMENT

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 and the 2nd one. Today we address the 3rd 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

"In the absence of immediate and truly useful production, a system will atrophy; conversely, a system will proliferate if it is productive."

- David Holmgren, Permaculture 

In permaculture, this principle highlights the importance of quickly sowing seeds for crops to grow.  The subtlety of the definition in the quote lies in the word “useful.” 

It is about producing results, but doing so in the service of the earth, the animals, and humans. It is important to create results that care of the soil and are self-sustaining. 

🔍 Illustration of the principle applied to a mission of transformation

This idea of production is applied by our society a little too strictly. 

The social norm, at least in the West, favors rapid actions, at the risk of forgetting how to simply be.  However, it is the alliance of action and being, in the service of an intention, that allows us to endure. 


Let's consider an example. 

I had the pleasure of accompanying an executive committee on issues of governance and leadership. 

The participants demonstrated openness, intellectual vivacity, and desire to quickly apply what they learned to specific action. 

They were so eager to move forward, they were frustrated not to get a ready to use action plan after two short sessions. Yet, it was risky to emphasize the ‘doing’ before clarifying the intention behind the action. 

At the close of a debrief, I shared these thoughts:

"It's great to want to move fast. But if you get to Norway in one day, when you'd rather be in Italy, what's the point of speed? If you move forward without being aware of where you want to go and how, you risk ending up in the wrong place, losing a lot of time, energy and credibility with your teams.” 

Following this exchange, a way forward emerged from the group:

  1. They decided to take the time to refocus on the original imperative behind this team coaching on governance and leadership. 

  2. They clarified what they wanted to get out of it, for themselves, their teams, their company. 

  3. They gave themselves the right to experiment within their committee, without the pressure to succeed, rather than imposing arbitrary changes on the organization. 


A laboratory phase is valuable to test what works, what needs refinement and what should be avoided.  

🐝 Tips to get moving

Dear change agents,

I’d like to suggest two principles to impress on your organizations before, during, and after each transformation project: 

  • Experiment

It is useful to test an idea in a "pilot" mode on a small scale within your organization. 

This will allow your community to learn, refine and improve or even radically change your approach with your partners and beneficiaries.

You may consider initiatives as biodegradable. 

  • Celebrate

Your community will need to celebrate often and repeatedly over time. 

The results of every step can be a source of celebration:

  • Your ability to dare to try something new,

  • Your blunders as evidence of your courage, potential sources of innovation and progress,

  • Your successes and ingredients for success.  

“The best way to predict your future is to create it”
— Abraham Lincoln

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Hello Changemakers!

I am Nina, an impact maker coach, specializing in leadership, sustainability and organizational 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!