8th principle - Use and respond creatively to change
OR turn a problem into a game
💡 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: constant change. In other words, nature’s sustainability is ensured by its perpetual evolution.
This new permaculture principle invites us to adopt a twofold approach:
see change as an ally rather than a threat,
proactively devise a new plan in response to unexpected developments.
After the rain, the rainbow reminds us that even though change can be frightening because it is beyond our control, it can also be a source of magic and beauty.
🔍 ILLUSTRATING THE PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLE AS APPLIED TO A MISSION OF TRANSFORMATION
A client—whom I'll call Stephane—experienced the truth of this principle.
Our coaching mission was designed to foster a culture of cohesion and innovation within his organization, in order to address market challenges in a responsible and sustainable manner.
His reality was different. He was going through a chaotic period with his team and his company. It was a time of restructuring, with departures that were neither well planned nor well executed. Everything seemed to be falling apart.
When considering the possibility of finding opportunity at the heart of change, he was skeptical of the approach: “You coaches are idealistic with your fine words and great enthusiasm for seeing the positive in everything. But this has its limits. We risk going into denial and losing the trust of our employees.”
He pointed out an absolutely crucial blind spot.
The idea is not to suggest that change is necessarily positive, nor is it to put on rose-colored glasses and see life as rosy when pain surrounds and consumes us.
The challenge is much more complex. It involves accepting that our plans may change, which can cause pain and fear. The challenge is to understand the hidden messages. This step allows us to proactively turn instability into an attractive and fertile opportunity. This requires real effort.
Together, we tried to imagine what opportunities and benefits might arise from the surrounding swamp. However, we found several lotus seeds.
With his team and his company, Stéphane was able to refocus on what really matters: the motivation and loyalty of the people who make up the company. Together, they were able to take the time to rethink their company’s mission and operational practices. Together, they felt a sense of solidarity and became the change leaders of their future. They sparked new possibilities in the dark of night.
After a while, he came back to me and said,“Turning a challenge into a playground for discovery is difficult but worth it.”
🐝 TIPS TO GET MOVING
Here is a wonderful book that illustrates the power of collective intelligence in the face of the most threatening changes in business:
"Daring to Trust: Reflections on Leadership Commitment"
- Bertrand Martin, Vincent Lendhart, and Bruno Jarrosson.
Bertrand Martin's unique story chronicles the turnaround of the Sulzer company, made possible by a remarkable unleashing of the potential of the people on the ground.
Here is another suggestion for shifting perspectives and inspiring action:
We can view the storms in our path with fatalism and despair.
Alternatively, we can view the obstacles we encounter as thorns in our side: warnings that spur us to examine the cause of the pain closely so that we can release it and move forward with peace of mind.
Now it's your turn:
What are the main sources of resistance in your current mission?
How can they serve as tools to bring about the desired change?
"Sustainabledevelopment and climate change are two sides of the same coin"
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As a reminder, I am writing a series on the parallels between the 12 operational principles of permaculture and the conditions for sustainable transformations of organizational systems. Here is the first post, the second one, the third one, the 4th one, the 5th one, the 6th one and the 7th. Today we’ll discuss the 8th principle. If you’re 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 who specializes in leadership and sustainable transformation.
I have spent the past 10 years leading sustainable change at a Fortune 500 company in a multicultural environment. Through my work, I aim to inspire professionals in organizations to rethink business and make them proud to contribute, in their own way, to a more sustainable, people-centered, and nature-friendly world.
If you'd like support to move forward on your journey with greater impact and ease, contact me!
