As we get closer to the end of the year, I’ve been thinking about rest.
Unfortunately, for many of us, the hare is our hero when really we should be focused on the tortoise.
One of the differences between a regenerative system and a degenerative one is that rest has a seasonal role in a regenerative system. If we learn from our four seasons, spring is a time for new growth, and summer is a time for growing, fall is a time to harvest, and winter is a time for hibernation, rest, and energy storage.
Despite this cycle of seasons, we don’t bring the concept of rest into most of our organizations even though we’ve lived with it our entire lives.
Mechanistic assumptions and culture
One of the implications of seeing our organizations as machines is that, over time, we take on their characteristics and expectations. The view of “organization as a machine” is deeply embedded in our cultures. The underlying reason for this is our enduring loyalty to productivity. A machine is designed to keep running until it breaks down. In fact, the quality of the machine is directly measured by its reliability to start right up and keep running.
Based on this mechanistic metaphor, it shouldn’t be surprising that we begin to expect the same thing from our employees. This expectation plays out in many ways. For example, people may not take vacations because the culture subtly rewards people who seemingly never need a break. Conversely, if people take their vacations, they may be seen as uncommitted.
I have heard people say disgruntled things about Generation Z because they tend to seek more balance between their personal lives and work. People say they are unmotivated, unwilling to put in the time, and irresponsible. It is almost as if seeking out balance is a bad thing. Or that the purpose of an employee is to give their all to the organization. This is the legacy of seeing our organizations as machines – and cultures that expect employees to act as if they also have machine-like qualities.
Are you struggling with resting or pausing from daily life? Read The Power of the Pause here.
Nature tells a different story
Living systems have cycles. The sun cycles every 24 hours, tides cycle twice daily, and seasons change four times yearly. If we modeled our organizations and culture after a living system and Nature’s cycles, we would see in every cycle when the tide was advancing and retreating. This invites us to examine our organizational rhythms. Are there times when there is a natural bustle of activity and advance of innovation or energy? And are there times of retreat or rest for renewal? This is a vital part of a regenerative system that requires downtime to thrive.
During the pandemic, we needed intense energy and action to adapt to the disruption we faced. Leadership teams were exhausted, but they dug deep and carried on. As soon as the vaccinations became available and immunity built up in our communities, we started seeing fragility in the same teams that were previously rock solid. They needed rest and recovery from the intensity of their previous two years of work.
A living organization and its human beings need time to rest and recover. It may seem like it will take more time to reach our goals. But just like the story of the tortoise and the hare, we’ll be better off in the long run.
When we understand we’re working in a regenerative system, we view times of rest as essential to the rhythms of work. Frankly, innovation and creativity are hard to find when you’re exhausted.
Looking for a thoughtful holiday gift? Consider buying a copy of Dr. Kathy Allen’s Leading from the Roots.
Rest and recovery and slowing down and being patient and more importantly all of the above leave us living in the present moment which is the only place to be.
I just finished reading Tricia Hersey’s “Rest is Resistance” and immersing myself in her call for Rest as foundational to our divinity of spirit. I highly recommend this book as reading it was restful in itself <3