Nature of Heart

Rain of Information

This picture appears in Invisible Currents—Nature's Lessons for the Mind and Heart, page 14. The anecdote in the book is titled "Directness." Following is a slightly different approach.

When rain falls on still water, it breaks the clear reflection and creates random confusion on the surface. Data rains on an organization all the time. When an organization's communication system is well organized, this data becomes meaningful and increases organizational learning. Alternatively, data can spread out in the wide water of the organization and become part of the culture, without awareness of its implcations. This can create disconnects, confusion, and disagreements. It's not active denial as much as a lack of recognition as to what is going on. The organization is getting fuller—the level of data is increasing and the container remains the same.  When there is too much, we are overwhelmed and ripe for a flood that drains our collective memories and sweeps them away.

Posted by Wanda McGee - Saturday, 05/08/10, 06:22 AM - Comments - Category: Nature's Metaphors for Life