See the Forest and the Trees

🔄 See the Forest and the Trees in All Your Sustainability Initiatives using this thought model 🌿

In my previous posts, I argued that while we all know the importance of collaboration in driving sustainability in the built environment we rarely talk about its true meaning and how to do it practically.

Today, I would like to extend these thoughts into internal collaboration. With the many internal stakeholders involved, sustainability initiatives can become a complex web in itself.

In the middle of this maze, there is no wonder that projects might stall due to resource constraints while others might simply be drifting along while not having an impact but still use lots of resources.

Ever wondered how to get on top this by making the right decisions without stepping on anyone’s feet?

The method I am going to talk about is based on an intriguing idea based on Holling’s studies on ecological systems. Holling noticed that all living systems move through an adaptive cycle – from birth to growth, to maturation, decline, and eventual renewal.

This cycle has crucial moments, transitionary phases that allow for renewal and evolution.

Organizations, a bit like ecosystems, experience these phases, too: Innovation, stability, disruption, and renewal. Whether it's product lines, business strategies, or technology adoption, there is this constant ebb and flow.

As our knowledge on our sustainability initiatives evolves, the challenge becomes how to effectively channel resources and nurture the most promising ones while recognizing the ones that are stagnant.

But how do you address this without stepping on anyones’s feet? Well, collaborate! But how?

You can use the thought model of the adaptive cycle as a collaborative workshop. 'The Surprising Power of Liberating Structures' offers a detailed instruction on this called Ecocycle Planning. I will link it in the comments.

In short:
🌱 Introduce the Ecocycle concept.

🌱 First individually and in silence participants list all sustainability initiatives they’re busy with

🌱 Then in pairs place each activity on the Ecocycle.

🌱 Now in small groups discuss the placement to find consensus.

🌱 Visualize the result of all groups with a collective Ecocycle map using Post-its on the wall

🌱 Identify overall consensus. Which activities to stop or boost?

🌱 Define steps for activities to 'stop' (in the Rigidity Trap).

🌱 Chart steps for activities to 'boost' (in the Scarcity Trap).

🌱 Lastly address the activities without consensus, strategize and try to define action steps

💡 Takeaway: The Adaptive Cycle and Ecocycle Planning can help change the way that we approach a portfolio of activities in organisations and it can provide a framework for keeping our sustainability efforts relevant and effective.

🤙 Let me know if you want to know more. I’d be happy to explore how you get the best out of your sustainability activities…

#decisionmaking #esg #collaboration #liberatingstructures