7th Principle - Implementing solutions on a small scale with patience
OR focusing on quality rather than quantity
💡 EXPLAINING THE PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLE
Nature calls on us to value small-scale actions.
"In nature, the design of a cell shows us that cells function best when they are at their smallest possible usable size (...). Excessive cell growth is generally impossible, but sometimes cells divide uncontrollably; this is often a sign (...) of cancer."
- D. Holmgren, *Permaculture*
This permaculture principle stands in contrast to the pursuit of growth at all costs and the commonly available standard solutions, which are increasingly valued by our Western society.
As for the need to take one's time, my teacher in collective intelligence reminds us
"There's no point in pulling on carrots to make them grow faster."
- Everything goes round and round on this earth; we are the only ones who don't realize it.
🔍 ILLUSTRATING THE PERMACULTURE PRINCIPLE AS APPLIED TO A MISSION OF TRANSFORMATION
Those who know me know that patience is a challenge for me. This is especially difficult when I have a lot of ideas swirling around in my head and the weight of the social and climate crises on my conscience.
When I started working on sustainability issues at my company, I was on my own and had to manage operations involving more than 15,000 employees and over 200 operational sites.
I was under pressure to ensure that these issues were truly integrated into the core of the business. I wanted to take action at every level, with everyone, right away.
My CEO said this very simple sentence to me when he hired me: "We have to change, and I value quality over quantity."
Simple, yet not obvious. How can we avoid falling into the trap of superficial changes? How can we achieve both quality and impact?
The focus then shifted to the key needs of the people on the ground—the “why” behind each action. The priority was to work with willing and committed partners.
In doing so, I was fortunate to test and adapt each solution to address social, environmental, and local challenges, with the cooperation of operational experts at all levels. The success of an initiative—despite its challenges—encouraged others to try developing practical and sustainable initiatives on their own, which contribute to a better world.
So yes, it was difficult to decide what to focus on, to find the right partner for the right pilot, and to allay impatience and the fear of making mistakes. But it was worth it.
Together, we developed hundreds of sustainable initiatives in the areas of operations, business, HR, and technology. Together, we planted various seeds of innovation, resulting in a beautiful, fertile, and flourishing garden.
This motto has guided me throughout my 12 years of sustainable transformational projects. I have come to understand that quality (and cooperation) enhances the impact of solutions and their diverse, dynamic, and pioneering outcomes.
🐝 TIPS TO GET MOVING
To increase your impact in a sustainable way, refocus on the gradual and organic growth of your initiatives and projects.
Here are some questions to help you reinforce the impact of the changes you make:
In my mission, am I in a:
"quantity and speed" mode?
"Quality and patience" mode?
If I'm in "quantity and speed" mode and want to try another strategy, then:
What promising, 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 intentionally and gradually, on a small scale?
“Wemust dare to imagine and trust that others, in other places, are also working on better local solutions—different from ours—and that bringing all our solutions together is likely more effective than a single remedy applied across the entire planet.”
IF YOU FOUND THIS POST INSIGHTFUL, PLEASE LIKE IT AND SHARE IT WITH MEMBERS OF YOUR NETWORK WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM IT.
IT'S THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT ME.
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 and the 6th. Today we’ll discuss the 6th 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!
