Getting to See the Full Flower Cluster

If you feel like you are stuck in the weeds of a problem at work during uncertain times, you are not alone. Uncertainty often brings a desire to keep things moving with a project. We feel the urge to get to some result even if we are unsure if that result is the one that is best aligned with the outcomes we desire.  What would happen if you paused and gained some perspective on the situation? What if looking to nature could give you the chance to shift the perspective? 

Adaptive leadership gives us a  tool in these volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous times (VUCA). In the adaptive leadership framework, developed by Ronald Heifitz, he talks about the metaphor of leaders getting on the balcony above the dance floor in order to gain perspective beyond day-to-day operational activities and urgent issues. 

First, we are able to see ourselves as part of the system and not react to a blaming or shaming stance. When we find practices that help us regulate our nervous system*, we can pause long enough to know a)what framework to apply b) to know we need to diagnose and c) to understand the best way to move from the ground(micro) to above the situation (macro). 

Can we turn to our natural landscapes for inspiration in this shift of perspective? We can work with a cluster of flowers to learn more.

Diagnosing the Issue 

Once we feel grounded enough to catch our breath, the diagnoses can begin. We can notice the weeds, the insects, whether the plant is getting enough water or needs more or less. The “seeing the weeds” of our system is important as a way to move into a decision. Leadership means understanding that sometimes the technical solutions may be enough to solve the issue. This can mean tweaking systems to shift a process in a project. We can work with our teams to make a rapid decision that solves an issue. You may clear away the weeds or provide less water to the flower cluster by re-directing the water flow around the cluster. 

Gaining Perspective from Above

Getting above the flower cluster allows us to see the system from a different perspective.   From here you can understand what other conditions may be impacting your flowers. Perhaps there are other plants providing shade; are there other flower beds in which you notice pollinators which may be beneficial to your flowers?  Here, you can seek adaptive leadership solutions by reflecting, taking a bigger perspective that may offer a way to see patterns. This may mean reaching out to colleagues in similar organizations to find out more about their successes, seeking out more resources and shifting the way that you may be introducing change into your organization. 

Nature’s wisdom is always available to us if we take the time to pause, take a breath and pay attention. Nature has been a  master adapter. I invite us to learn and practice the ways that our leadership can blossom as individuals and organizations playing pivotal roles in our communities. 

*The term nervous system regulation is often overused and oversimplified. Here, I am using the term to mean being in awareness of the way your body is reacting to stimulus in a moment so that you are responding from a calm and clear place as opposed to a “triggered” or agitated place.