Nature-based HR: Summer Strategies (Part 1 of 3)
An Introduction to Summer
This Season begins on the Summer Solstice, which is the longest day of the year. In the Summer, the colors and textures of the natural world truly become vibrant. All manner of species are growing under the long periods of sunlight and the warm days. If it’s been a kind Spring, there is an abundance of food that comes in waves throughout the Summer and into the Fall. Like any Season, Summer has its risks: heatstroke, drought, uncontrollable wildfires. In the Summer, the heat needs to be balanced with lower rates of exertion and water so that organisms don’t fall prey to dehydration. In the Summer, we nurture what we planted in the Spring and enjoy the fruits of our labors. We may also plant new life that will come to fruition in the Fall.
Career and Organizational Themes:
The work we began in the Spring continues, creating more space and health for that which wants to grow in the Summer. It is a time of tending to the garden regularly, weeding out what’s unhelpful and balancing the heat of constant action with the cool waters of reflection and rest. It’s an excellent time to re-prioritize, expand beyond what you thought was possible, and create new systems around what it is that wants to grow at this time.
Micro-season 1: June 21 - July 22
Within each Season, there are three “micro-seasons,” each assigned to a zodiac sign. At A Wild New Work, we use these zodiac signs as helpful symbols of the natural world’s unique invitation of this time. While none of these seasons truly start and end on a specific day (it’s a much more fluid transition), we can harness the energy of each window and use the natural world as a guide for where to center our attention.
Zodiac sign: Cancer
Element: Water
Symbols: the crab, a river full with snow-melt, the first fruits: blueberries, cherries, etc.
Inquiry: How can resources, information, and empathy flow more freely in my organization?
The first part of the Summer season is our opportunity to become so well hydrated that we can weather any droughts to come. It’s a window in which we can take care of ourselves and others more effectively, making space for healthy flow in our careers and organizations.
Imagine your organization as an ecosystem. Every ecosystem requires a water source in order for its inhabitants to survive. This water nourishes, clears away debris, and provides an important incubator for collective wisdom. Organizations with healthy water systems share information freely, are open to new ideas, and have built strong channels for their resources to flow through. They are excellent stewards of what they have and, as such, are more resilient in the face of difficult times. Organizations that allow people to hoard information or that have a culture of mistrust are operating in a stagnant way. You can imagine their ecosystems filled with dirty ponds or with arid soil. If there is a deluge of resources of information, the soil in these ecosystems is often so dry that it can’t absorb the added flow, resulting in devastating landslides.
How do information and resources flow in your organization currently? Do information and resources flow equitably in your organization? If you had to describe it as a body of water, would it be a trickling stream, a still lake, a monsoon, or something else?
Below you’ll find some small ways to embody the invitation of this micro-season. You’re encouraged to make these your own and come up with new ways to improve your team or organization’s flow if these don’t resonate with you.
Suggested actions:
*Look objectively at how employees are receiving information about Covid-19 updates, work from home policies, etc. What do you notice?
*Consider whether there are areas in your communication flows that could be improved so that all employees are empowered to get the information they need.
*Embody your role as a fierce protector of employee well-being, especially on behalf of those who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.