Principle 7 - Use small-scale solutions and be patient
OR focus on quality rather than quantity
💡 A Simple Explanation of the Principles of Permaculture
Nature calls on us to value small-scale actions.
“In nature, the design of a cell shows us that functions are best performed at the smallest possible operational scale (...). Excessive cell growth is generally impossible, but cells sometimes divide uncontrollably; this is often a sign (...) of cancer.”
- D. Holmgren, *Permaculture*
This principle of permaculture stands in contrast to the pursuit of growth at any cost and the systematic application of standardized solutions, which are highly valued in Western society.
As for the need to take one’s time, my collective intelligence instructor reminds us of a key point:
"There's no point in pulling on carrots to make them grow faster."
- Marine Simon, “Everything goes in circles on this earth; we’re the only ones who don’t realize it.”
🔍 Implementation in a transformation initiative
Those who know me know that patience is a challenge for me. Especially when I have a lot of ideas swirling around in my head and the weight of social and climate emergencies on my conscience.
When I started working on sustainability issues at my company, I was on my own and had to manage an organization with more than 15,000 employees and over 200 operational sites.
Needless to say, I was under a lot of pressure to ensure these issues were truly integrated into the heart of the business. I wanted to take action at every level, with everyone, right away.
When I was hired, my CEO said this very simple sentence to me: “We need to change, and I want quality over quantity.”
Simple, yet not so obvious. How can we avoid falling into the trap of superficial changes? How can we achieve both quality and impact?
The focus was on the key needs of people on the ground—the “why” behind the action. The priority was to work with willing and committed partners.
In doing so, I had the opportunity to test and adapt each solution to address social, environmental, and local challenges, in collaboration with operational experts at all levels.
The success of an initiative, despite its challenges, encouraged others to develop pragmatic and sustainable initiatives, contributing to a better world.
So yes, it was hard to decide what to focus on, to find the right partner for the right driver, and to calm my impatience and fear of making mistakes. But it was worth it.
Together, we have developed hundreds of sustainable initiatives in the areas of operations, business, HR, and technology. Together, we have planted various seeds of innovation, which have grown into a beautiful, fertile, and thriving garden.
This motto has guided me throughout my 12 years of work on sustainable transformation initiatives. I have come to understand that quality (in cooperation) enhances the impact of solutions and facilitates their widespread adoption—in a way that is diverse, fluid, and tailored to specific contexts.
🐝 Tips for Getting Active
To maximize your impact in a sustainable way, refocus on the gradual, organic growth of your initiatives and projects.
Here are a few questions to help you amplify the impact of the changes you're making:
In my mission, am I in a mode:
"Quantity and speed"?
“Quality and patience”?
If I'm in "quantity and speed" mode and want to try a different strategy, then:
Which productive and high-quality project(s) can I support?
Which project(s) can I stop, or at least postpone or delegate?
What seed(s) can I plant deliberately and gradually, on a small scale?
“Wemust dare to imagine and trust that others, in other places, are also working toward better solutions—locally, in ways that are a little different from ours—and that the network of all our solutions is probably stronger than a single remedy to be applied across the entire planet.”
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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 , 5th, and 6th 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!
