ALL CHANGE IS PERSONAL
Biomimicry
Nature has been adapting, evolving, and optimizing for billions of years. Instead of forcing unnatural, rigid transformations, organizations going through change can take cues from the natural world:
-
Adaptability and resilience. Just like ecosystems thrive by adjusting to environmental shifts, organizations must design change efforts that are flexible and responsive rather than rigid and prescriptive.
-
Self-reinforcing behaviors. In nature, feedback loops drive adaptation. The same should be true in organizations, where small changes create ripple effects that reinforce long-term transformation.
-
Simplicity and efficiency. Nature eliminates waste and maximizes efficiency. Change strategies should do the same, reducing friction and complexity to create seamless, organic adoption.
​
A few ways to incorporate Biomimicry into Change Management:
​​​
-
Use feedback loops. In nature, ecosystems adapt based on real-time input. In change, this means consistently gathering employee feedback and making adjustments to keep engagement and adoption high.
-
Create self-sustaining change. Just like a thriving forest doesn’t need constant intervention, the best change initiatives embed behaviors that sustain themselves through peer influence, habits and cultural reinforcement.
-
Reduce friction and waste. Nature optimizes efficiency. Change should, too. Identify bottlenecks, streamline processes and remove unnecessary complexity to make adoption effortless.
-
Follow the path of least resistance. Water doesn’t force its way uphill. It follows the easiest route forward. Change works the same way; instead of battling resistance, find ways to align with existing behaviors and workflows.
-
Look for fractal patterns. Nature scales by repeating simple structures at different levels (think of the veins in a leaf mirroring river networks). Change efforts should follow the same principle: scaling through repeatable, easy-to-understand behaviors.
Nature's Change Playbook
Lessons From the Natural World
Nature thrives by regenerating, not depleting its resources. Biomimicry helps organizations do the same.
Case Study
Using Natural Metaphors to Cultivate a More Resilient Change Culture
Problem
A company was undergoing a complex change initiative, and as with most large transformations, the team faced challenges, delays, and moments of frustration.
​
One leader on the change team, however, had a unique approach to leadership. Even though his day-to-day life revolved around corporate work—commuting, sitting in meetings, managing deliverables—he was deeply attuned to the natural world. He often grounded himself in the rhythms of nature, noticing things like the sunsets, weather patterns, and seasonal changes.
​
He began bringing this awareness into his leadership style, using biomimicry and natural metaphors to help the team stay grounded and see change as a natural, evolving process rather than something to control or force.
​
Solution
Instead of launching a formal resilience program or mandating mindfulness exercises, this shift happened organically, in alignment with biomimicry principles:
-
Leading with natural metaphors. At the start of meetings, this leader would often make an observation about nature—the night sky, a recent storm, the changing leaves in fall. He used these simple, relatable metaphors to reframe challenges in a broader, more natural context.
-
Shifting focus from control to adaptation. He reminded the team that change, like nature, isn’t about rigid control but about adaptation and resilience. Just as seasons shift and plants grow toward the light, the team needed to be flexible and trust the process.
-
Creating a shared experience of nature. Without prompting, team members began posting photos of natural beauty—sunsets, blooming flowers, trees—on their Viva Engage channel. This wasn’t part of a formal initiative; it was simply something that felt good to do.
-
Encouraging micro-moments of connection. People started noticing nature more, taking walks outside, and seeing their surroundings differently. These small, personal moments of connection helped diffuse stress and created a more laid-back, inspired team culture.
Result
-
Meetings felt less tense, and the change process felt less like a high-stakes battle and more like an evolving journey.
-
The mood of the change team subtly shifted, making people more patient, more resilient, and less reactive to setbacks.
-
Employees felt more connected to something bigger than themselves, which helped them navigate uncertainty with a greater sense of calm and perspective.
-
Team culture improved, not because challenges disappeared, but because people approached them differently—less frantic, more adaptive.​
Key Takeaways
​
-
Natural metaphors can reframe change as something organic, not forced. When people see transformation as part of a larger rhythm, they feel less resistance and more adaptability.
-
Biomimicry doesn’t have to be a formal initiative—small, organic shifts can shape culture. The leader never mandated these practices; he simply modeled them, and they naturally took root.
-
A connection to nature fosters resilience. Simply noticing the sky, the seasons, or a blooming tree helps create a sense of calm and perspective, which reduces stress in high-pressure environments.
— OUR CORE BELIEF —