Nature of Heart

Structures

The effects of wear and tear are less noticeable on nature's structures than on those shaped by human hands.

A concrete footbridge at one end of Widewater rests on fully visible pilings as it traverses a dry channel. The gray concrete pillars, poured with 90-degree edges, are disclosed during times of extreme low water. They stand in formal contrast to nature's chaotic arrangement of canal bedrock. Most of the human-made structures are no longer symmetrical. They have been nicked and notched by many winters of grinding ice and repeated flooding. At one end of Widewater, the overflow outlet—small and insignificant during times of high water—stands out as a 15-foot tower devoid of purpose. It, too, clearly shows the effects of the elements..

Points to Ponder . . .

• How is the structure of your organization reminiscent of bedrock? Of poured concrete?
• What comes to mind when you think of "nature's work" in an organization? What about "human's work"?
• How is each type of work affected by times of severe weather?
• What is the gauge you use to determine the extent of damage after an organizational storm?
• How can organizational structures be designed or managed to lessen the effects of severe weather?

Posted by Wanda McGee - Saturday, 04/03/10, 05:26 PM - Comments - Category: Nature's Metaphors for Life