I’m doing some writing in philosophy and came across the “Twelve Rules of Native American Philosophy.” It struck me that most of these rules would make a powerful guiding light for any business organization. (These rules were posted anonymously on the Internet.)
The first is wholeness. It reads, “All things are interrelated. Everything in the universe is part of a single whole. Everything is connected in some way to everything else. It is only possible to understand something if we understand how it is connected to everything else.”
This rule brought to mind conversations about silos, systems theory, business strategy matrix and several other words and phrases that describe attempts to highlight the importance of understanding the connections between departments in our organizations, as well as our markets. Still, even now I hear a lot about inter-departmental conflicts and the resulting frustration. “Our research department has no clue about maintaining good customer relationships,” etc. Some organizations look like non-united nations, with each department speaking their own language. So, I recommend having a fresh look at your organization with this rule in mind. Your employees would very likely be willing to develop a humorous skit about the lack of understanding between departments – or satellite offices for that matter. That might be a good and light-hearted start to a remedy.
Another rule is dedicated to change. “Everything is in a state of constant change. One season falls upon the other. People are born, live, and die. All things change. There are two kinds of change. The coming together of things and the coming apart of things. Both kinds of change are necessary and are always connected to each other.”
You know I’ve written quite a bit about leaning into change, starting with recognizing the constant nature of change. Our bodies and our organizations are always changing, and the more sensitive we are to this phenomenon, the better equipped we are to steer ourselves and our companies through change and continue toward our desired outcomes. We need to be alert to both kinds of change within our organizations and in the environment surrounding us.
Here’s another rule, this one about potential. “A person must decide to develop their own potential. The path will always be there for those who decide to travel it.” Hmmm. Have you ever addressed a roomful of trainees who haven’t yet made the decision to develop their own potential? This might be difficult to understand for those of us who love learning. Still, there are often legitimate blocks to this decision and those need to be explored before wasting time attempting to inspire and excite employees about the fantastic professional development opportunities available in an organization.
Another rule related to potential is “People must actively participate in the development of their own potential.” This deals with the “ownership” and “buy-in” concepts we hear about so often – and just as often tend to forget.
There are four dimensions of true learning. “A person learns in a whole and balanced manner when the mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional dimensions are involved in the process.” Take a few minutes to think of the most effective consultants you’ve ever hired, i.e. the ones with the most visible and long-lasting positive impact on your organization. I bet they made this rule come to life in their interactions with the people in your business.
So, I’m grateful to our Native American countrymen for again sharing their remarkable wisdom.
And now, I’ve a favor to ask of you readers. In this year, a time of political whirlwind, I want to develop a column about politics within business. Would you send me your own bits of wisdom, your questions, frustrations, and successes related to the politics in your own organization – or one you left because of politics? If I include your situations in my column, of course I will protect your privacy in every way.
Thanks in advance and happy spring.
Jo Gorissen, formerly Jo Hawkins Donovan, is a former Milwaukee area resident and certified transition coach. Her web site is www.coachingconbrio.com and she can be reached at (414) 305-3459.
