5th principle - "Integrate rather than separate"
OR ASSOCIATE TO MULTIPLY IMPACT
I am creating 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 fourth one. Today we’ll discuss the 5th 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.
💡 EXPLANATION OF THE PERMACULTURE OPERATING PRINCIPLE
Nature in its unspoiled state is much more like the free-flowing English gardens than the 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 receives an abundance of food from the clownfish, which in return receives protection.”
- Collective Intelligence:Let's Consciously Co-Create the World of Tomorrow, p. 62
🔍 ILLUSTRATION OF THE PRINCIPLE AS APPLIED TO A TRANSFORMATION MISSION
Why get locked into a competitive and siloed mindset when we need every part of the whole to participate in a sustainable transformation of organizations?
An executive once told me how tensions between teams were reduced in just a few months.
The sales and operations teams were constantly complaining about each other, blaming each other for their problems. The salespeople were "selling nonsense," and the operations staff were "blocking all access to information."
After a while, this boss decided to seat them side by side in the same office and encouraged them to work together to secure new business opportunities. A few months later, their collaboration had increased significantly.
This ability to forge meaningful connections by being physically close and working on shared projects has stayed with me. This principle inspired me when we launched the “Purpose & Sustainability” roadmap within an organization.
Eight disruptive pilot programs were jointly defined by that organization’s diverse country managers and operational staff. The projects ranged from innovative initiatives to promote biodiversity and bonus policies tied to multifaceted performance indicators to the redesign of the process for developing proposals.
Each entity selected the pilot project that would make it a pioneer in this field within its zone.
After several months of work in cross-functional teams, a flagship event was organized to gather feedback and decide on the future rollout of these pilot projects.
I will never forget the smiles, pride, and solidarity in the eyes and faces of the united teams as they shared their successes, challenges, and proposals for moving forward.
🐝 TIPS TO GET MOVING
For changemakers, it is helpful to consider this principle of integration on two levels: external and internal.
Externally, all the entities involved in your value chain can be strong partners in achieving the desired transformation. A supplier or a customer, for example, can help you rethink the eco-design of your products. An NGO or a local organization can help you understand the needs of the community so you can create more value.
Internally, all employees will have an impact on the organization's transformation projects. If they are committed, they will be a driving force and a source of innovation. 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 pressuring them, by listening to them and trusting their perspective, by exchanging and proposing ideas.
How should one begin?
Turn 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 really important that you understand because xxx"
You might want to try:
"Yes, so I hear that you need xxx, and that gives me the idea of xxx. What do you think?"
“Stopseparating yourself from things, (...) it’s about daring to look at how much we influence our reality and how often we reap what wesow”
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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!
