Principle 1 - “Observe and Interact”
Understanding the soil needed to plant the right seeds
💡 A simple explanation of how permaculture works
“In vegetable permaculture, it’s recommended that when you first arrive at a plot of land, you do nothing there for an entire year but observe it throughout the four seasons. (...) Observe, observe, observe—and then connect with what’s already there.” Everything goes in circles on this earth; we’re the only ones who don’t realize it, Marine Simon.
🔍 Implementation in a transformation initiative
When I began my mission to transform the organization and its culture in Japan, I spent my first few days, weeks, and months observing operations and interviewing members of that operational unit.
It seems obvious, but we often avoid it or rush through it because of:
The internal pressure to act quickly to demonstrate one's added value,
Management's expectation that things will move forward quickly,
Questions from employees eager to understand what we’ll actually be doing.
In practical terms, what does that mean?
There were just the two of us for a country with more than 5,000 employees.
It took us several months to assess the current situation through more than a hundred qualitative individual interviews, dozens of field visits, and collaborative workshops (this was a representative sample).
Every moment, I forced myself to put my thoughts aside.
I spent my time listening—fully and without judgment—to the members of the existing system. It was time to give them space to say what they wanted and needed to say, taking the time to explore different angles.
Is it really worth it? The rewards of this seemingly “unproductive” time:
Understanding the ecosystem’s strengths, needs, and obstacles.
Identifying potential allies and sources of resistance (you can't please everyone, especially as a young foreign woman in a leadership position).
Reassuring those involved through the respect, curiosity, humility, and openness demonstrated.
Building relationships and creating meaningful moments of connection—ones that are not only motivating but also beneficial in the long run.
There's no doubt about it: that time spent interacting without interference saved me from fumbling around in the dark and wasting time later on. It's one of my fondest memories. Anything was possible.
🐝 Tips for Getting Active
If you're starting a new mission:
Try to identify different members of your ecosystem whom you might encounter, just as a journalist would—without any preconceived notions.
If you don't have an official time slot, suggest meeting for coffee or lunch.
It's better to prioritize meaningful interactions.
Quantitative surveys can be useful for confirming impressions, highlighting trends, and providing reassurance through data.
It is human beings who will subtly show you which seeds to plant where.
“‘Thebeginning is half of everything’”
As our wonderful team-coaching instructor, Michèle Darmouni, reminded us, “It all starts at the beginning”!
If your project is already underway, don’t panic! You can suggest holding a check-in to understand your colleagues’ experiences. It’s never too late to start.
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Hello to you, agents of change!
My name is Nina Cambadélis, and I am an impact coach specializing in sustainable development and organizational transformation. I am myself an agent of change within a company committed to ecological transformation.
What I love to do through my work is to encourage professionals to rethink 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 find yourself in one of these situations and would like some support along the way, please contact me:
Become the agent of change you want to see in the world you hope for.
Discover and assert your leadership.
Make positive impact and purpose central to your organization.
Accelerate engagement within your ecosystem to drive systemic change.
Make an impact while conserving energy and promoting well-being.
Collaborate more effectively with various organizations to build a committed community and develop innovative solutions.
Here is a link to schedule an exploratory and the form to further outline your goals and challenges.
