Integritus Prime

I’m always exploring insights from biomimicry for social innovation. My last post on biomimicry connected its principles to those of the Vipassana meditation technique.

As I reflect on the work situations I’ve had the honor of participating in, from educational settings to local and international governments to startups, some lessons pop out that are in complete alignment with what biomimicry teaches us, and what I learned in my Biomimicry for Social Innovation Immersion course. I’ll summarize my top 3:

1. Feedback loops: One of the most important lessons that biomimicry reinforced for me is the importance of effective communication, as I mentioned in a recent post. Tight feedback loops, or quick, real-time communication, helps us navigate times of stress and change, allowing teams to co-evolve and strengthen their bond while also improving their productivity.
2. Relationships: According to master biomimicry teacher Dayna Baumeister of Biomimicry 3.8, “Life always puts relationship before task.” In the workplace, this translates into being attuned to the whole person, and addressing any challenges there first, before jumping to task. Once the relationship is harmonious, the task will be handled with much more ease and effectiveness, because team members will be well motivated and more engaged.
3. Adaptation: Change is the only constant in life and work, so adaptation is a key skill and a lesson we keep learning. As conditions and resources shift, so does our approach to our processes, where we target our efforts, and how we execute our plans. The most important lenses to remember and apply here are the core DNA or core values of an organization, it’s integrity, and the above two points: clear and timely communication, as well as attention to relationships, to ensure optimal adaptation. If an organization breaches its own core values and/or violates its relationships, the team, projects, and company fabric all start to suffer.

I continue to be endlessly inspired while learning from and applying biomimicry in my life and work. Share with me your key lessons learned from biomimicry for engagement in your workplace.

Insights from biomimicry for optimizing engagement include focusing on communication, cooperative relationships, and adaptation to change. Photo Credit: Helloquence.