Principle 6 - "Use interfaces and highlight borders"
OR kill two birds with one stone
💡 A Simple Explanation of the Principles of Permaculture
In the last article, we explored a permaculture principle that calls for “integrating rather than separating” the elements of nature in order to sustain life on Earth.
But this new principle of permaculture, which refers to the notion of an interface (i.e., a boundary between two systems), seems to emphasize the concept of boundaries rather than that of integration. Does the philosophy of permaculture contradict itself?
Wait a minute, butterfly.
While boundaries and interfaces define spaces, they also connect and unite them through mutual exchanges and interactions.
“Let’s take the example of a sunset. Everyone agrees it’s magnificent. The sun on its own or the horizon on its own is far less so: it’s the interaction and interplay of these two elements that allows nature to express its full potential.”
- Solène Pignet, *The Sustainable Entrepreneur's Guide*, p. 63
The coming together of earth, water, and sun gives life. It’s as simple as that.
🔍 Implementation in a transformation initiative
Today, I’d like to highlight illustrations that showcase my partners’ experiences rather than my own.
Mélibée, a socially conscious company, applies this aspect of permaculture to its daily operations. Agathe and Solenn, its two co-founders, have decided to create synergies between their private and public lives.
In the workplace, they help organizations become more responsible, particularly by drawing on B Corp and FSSDmethods. In their free time, they find joy in free-form dance, meditation, yoga, and other forms of inner exploration.
One day, they combined these two worlds. They created a retreat so their partners could explore their inner ecology. The result?
Deeper and broader relationships among the participants.
Professional women who have found a balance between "taking care of themselves" and "taking care of the world."
A reduction in each person’s eco-anxiety thanks to “The Work That Reconnects,” which is at the heart of this retreat.
Mélibée and I have also applied this principle of “making the most of the edges” together. For the past few years, I have been supporting them through their “mentoring sessions.”
Our discussions, our respective areas of expertise, and the help of a friend led us to another surprise in life: a consulting assignment for the Valenciennes Hospital Center to help thousands of employees collaboratively develop their 5-year institutional plan focused on sustainability issues.
🐝 Tips for Getting Active
Do you want to “highlight the borders” to maximize the impact of your projects?
Three steps seem essential to me:
Recognize, accept, and embrace your uniqueness.
Examine your limits and connect with people and activities that complement you.
Ask yourself how your positioning, your activities, and your choices can create new opportunities.
Specifically, I suggest you ask yourself three questions:
What sets me apart?
You can list several items—whether they relate to your background, personality, interests, or activities.
Who or what could help me achieve my goals?
Here, think about things you don’t usually associate with your business but that could actually complement it. These might be the boundaries between different skill sets, projects, or even partners.
In this project, what might be the positive ripple effects?
“Usingborders and making the most of the margins invites us to open ourselves up to what we haven’t organized or created ourselves, to embrace the unexpected.”
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As a reminder, I’d like to highlight the parallels between the 12 operational principles of permaculture and sustainable transformations in organizational systems. If you’re a professional committed to promoting a better society, these principles and insights should help you maximize your impact and inner peace. Here is the first, the second , the 3rd and 4th and 5th article. Today we’ll discuss the 6th principle.
Hello to you, agents of change!
I'm Nina Cambadélis, an impact coach and expert in leadership and sustainable transformation.
For more than 10 years, I was in charge of transformation and multifaceted performance initiatives at a multicultural CAC 40 company. What I love to do is help organizations and professionals rethink their business and make them proud to contribute, in their own way, to a world that is more sustainable, more humane, and more respectful of nature.
If you'd like some guidance along the way, contact me!
