Principle 2 - “Collect and store energy”
Or: How to Mix Up Activities to Stay Engaged Over Time
I thought it would be helpful to draw a parallel 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’s the first article.
💡 A simple explanation of how permaculture works
Nature doesn't need a gardener.
It is designed from the outset to meet its own needs for water, sunlight, wind, and nutrients, regardless of the season or location. It adapts to the characteristics of a given environment—whether arid, frozen, or humid—in order to develop, distribute, and store the resources necessary for its survival.
The goal is to follow a plan that requires minimal energy and effort.
🔍 Implementation in a transformation initiative
Just like nature, an agent of change must walk the talk when it comes to living simply.
These professionals need time, creativity, knowledge, support, and above all, above all, a great deal of energy to sustain themselves over the long term and share that energy with their ecosystem.
I remember one of my team members arriving at a meeting completely exhausted.
She felt as though she were single-handedly driving the creation of a cross-functional committee to promote eco-friendly practices in the office.
As we discussed, we tried to understand the sources of resistance, the levels of commitment among members, and what was essential to making a real impact. We explored how to adapt based on each member’s resources, strengths, and room to maneuver. We developed a plan to strengthen the project’s shared governance, conserve everyone’s energy, and maximize opportunities for pride.
She seemed relieved. But, as far as I was concerned, one thing was missing: how to store and replenish her energy. I asked her, “What projects give you energy these days?” Once we’d identified those, I simply advised her to alternate and mix energizing activities with those that drain her energy throughout her day. The key is to recharge your energy naturally, without pushing yourself too hard. This dynamic creates a virtuous cycle because energy is contagious.
A few years later, after many collective successes, she told me that this change had been a turning point.
🐝 Tips for Getting Active
Recharge your energy just like you'd stock up on groceries.
Just because the market is full of good food doesn't mean you're going to bring the whole thing home. It would be too expensive, impossible to store, and impossible to eat before the expiration date.
So, yes, there are billions of projects you’d like to launch, countless people to meet, decision-makers to convince, partnerships to forge, emails to write, “kick-off” meetings to organize, dozens of conferences to attend, and stacks of books to devour. But it’s important to be selective.
We must pay attention to our levels of motivation, intellectual energy, and physical fitness so that we can sustain our high-impact projects over the long term.
Do you feel guilty that you’re not doing enough in the face of climate and social crises? I understand. Now, let’s look at things from a different perspective.
July 28 marked Earth Overshoot Day. We have already consumed the resources that the planet can generate in a single year. As an agent of change, you are surely trying to bring about shifts in individual and collective practices in order to stop overconsuming natural resources.
So why do you do to yourself the very things you fight against in society? Why waste your energy?
Far be it from me to judge. I'm just trying to raise awareness.
I find myself spending too much energy on my projects. I try to get back on track as soon as possible. It's important to lead by example and to bring my ideas to life.
I want to show that maximizing impact and well-being go hand in hand. It’s a challenge to tackle. A journey. Yet it’s crucial.
"Productivityis only valuable if it allows you to have a balanced life."
So, are you ready to generate the kind of energy that lasts? What would be your first step in that direction?
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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.
