Relationship before Task: Pacific Approach or Biomimicry?
Recently, I facilitated a workshop for a team over several days. I used some biomimicry principles to inspire the team to think differently about team cohesion and resilience. The principle I focused on the most was “relationship before task”.
One of the discussions really stuck with me: it was about how to honor and use Pacific approaches to partnership and implementation of the program. The consensus was that a major aspect of the Pacific way is to build the relationship first. This is synchronous with biomimicry, the science of emulating nature. In nature, organisms have strong and interdependent relationships, providing vital nutrition and information to each other. These mutualisms – mutually beneficial relationships in nature – ensure resilience.
What feels like an epiphany to me, but is probably a strong confirmation, is this: Pacific approaches are founded on the indigenous communities across Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), and the alignment with nature makes perfect sense. Of course the people who live closest to nature would be the best biomimics. They would follow nature’s principles most closely.
So, as I reflected on my facilitation experience, I was further affirmed in my work to strengthen teams using principles from nature, which are also embodied by indigenous people living close to nature. Putting relationship before task allows teams to stay cohesive in times of change, and is a principle that is embodied by both Pacific islanders and biomimicry. And, for the same reasons: change is a constant and navigating change is best done together, with people you trust.
Share with me your thoughts on relationship before task.
