FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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?
If you liked this post, please show your support by liking it and sharing it with friends and family who might find it helpful. That’s the best way to support me.
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.
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.
If you liked this post, please show your support by liking it and sharing it with friends and family who might find it helpful. That’s the best way to support me.
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.