Learning from nature: Six lessons in change management

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Looking out from the window of my plane en route to Bangalore, I saw a clear, bright evening sky. The sun was just beginning to set. The myriad color schemes that appeared across the sky held me captivated. As the plane commenced its descent, the sun moved further down and darkness fell gradually. I noticed a lonely light turn on in the town below. Descending a few hundred feet further down, more lights appeared. As the plane started to land, I could see the entire city magnificently lit up. Another night had set in. The bustling city was all set to spend the night under artificial lighting.

I was completely spellbound by the scale of change that happened in the world below, all in a matter of minutes! Not a word had been spoken; no presentations made, no leadership lessons, no crisis management. Compliance was complete. A diverse city of a million residents had responded in a singular predictable fashion to a change brought about by nature. The entire city responded uniformly to the change and quickly adjusted to the new reality—lights were switched on. This change was a way of life and happened with seemingly so little effort!

Nature had just taught me some profound lessons in change management—in its own inimitable way. Having been a part of several change-management initiatives in my corporate life, I carried home the following six lessons:

1. Plan for predictable change The biggest strength of nature is its predictability. Days and nights occur in a predictable manner and seasons arrive at designated periods. There are indeed unpredictable events such as a hurricane, an earthquake or a tsunami, but these are aberrations. The impact of business changes needs to be anticipated and made as predictable as possible.

2. Prepare people for change
As darkness descends, birds start returning to their nests, lights are switched on in homes, vehicles turn on their head lamps, and the ground is gradually illuminated in the midst of an ongoing day-night cricket match. The nature of change and its after-effects are well understood. Adjustments that people need to make are known. In business too, everyone must know what to expect from change so that they can be better prepared. People respond favourably if the effects of change are planned and communicated well.

3. Create a sense of anticipation to change
The onset of darkness and the night brings in an expectation of cooler temperatures, a period of rest and relaxation and time with family—things that one looks forward to. If a business change can be packaged attractively and the ensuing benefits are well-understood and anticipated, enhanced adaptation and success would follow.

4. Choose an optimal change velocity
The change from day to night happens at an effortless and relaxed pace that everyone is comfortable with. Similarly, in business, the velocity of change must be chosen carefully. Change introduced too fast could create a sense of instability and fear, while slow-paced change may lack momentum and lose the desired impact.

5. Introduce change in a quiet and unobtrusive manner
Nightfall is quiet, unobtrusive. In the same way, successful change initiatives are invariably quieter. A change-management exercise need not necessarily be accompanied by a high-decibel performance. While communication is essential to align expectations and behaviors, change leaders need to exude calmness and composure. This would enhance the sense of comfort and well-being among those affected by change.

6. Consider the impact of change on all constituencies
Nature makes the change uniformly acceptable to all constituencies affected by it. Change in a business context impacts the entire ecosystem—customers, partners, employees, shareholders, to name just a few. The impact is felt differently by different people, especially in cross-cultural and global environments. Change managers need to be sensitive to the impact on all stakeholders and devise means to make the change most acceptable to all.

“Change is the only constant in life,” said Heraclitus. The business environment is in a constant state of flux. Businesses are acquired or sold. Business models, technology, systems, and processes are constantly being reinvented. These bring about disruptive and profound changes to the manner in which work is done. Nature too is constantly changing and brings with it a huge repository of lessons for us. If we observe nature carefully, there is a lot we can learn. In this case, I was privileged to learn a few lessons on change management.

- By Narayanan Sampath, Head—India Business, Infosys BPO

The thoughts and opinions shared here are of the author.