Making natural connections
- 1. Making Natural Connections:A Positive ManifestoforImproved Environmental Planning 1. Try on several pairs of glasses: As professionalsinwhateverfieldwe lookatthe world throughour ownbrand of professional glasses.We nevereverthinktostopandput on otherpeoplesglassessoasto see the worldthroughtheireyes. Itissurelybettertosee some of these glassesfirstandthenoverlayyourglassessoyoucan betterjoinupandmake connections. 2. Abandon Targets and Performance Measuresinfavour of a clear setof goals: The targets by whichwe all operate andjudge ourworthrarelyhelpgoodplanning.Mostexemplar projectsactuallyrelate topeople overcominghurdlesandoperatingoutsideconventional workingpractices.Sharingaclear goal allowspeopletoadaptina sharedjourneyaslearning and experience increases. 3. Celebrate and learnfrom conflict and failure: Conflict,disappointmentandfailure are all necessaryandvital partsof personal andprofessional development.Itishow theyare handledthatiskey. However,currentpublicopinionseesfailureascause forwitch-hunts, scapegoatsandresignationwhichcreatesaculture thatis averse totakingrisksand experimenting. The veryopposite of whatwe needtodofor goodplanning. Thisisendemic throughoutpublicpolicyandinschoolswhere childrenare notallowedtodoanythingthat has riskassociatedwithit 4. Wisdombeats Cleverness : We are trainingpeople toworkinspecialistsilosas superspecialists. Yetwe alsoneedpeoplewhounderstandthe biggerpicture setwithin critical understandingsof the social,economicandenvironmental intersectionsinorderto addressthe bigsocietal challengeswe face. We needimprovedwisdomnotclevernessin our resource managementdecisions. 5. Overcome Nature DeficitDisorder : We are in dangerof creatinga societywithnature deficitdisorderaswe seektorestrict,preventanddenypeople the opportunitytohave fun inthe countryside. Childreninparticularare a keygroupwho are not allowedtoindulge in natural play,builddensandclimbtrees. 6. Rethinkhow we communicate: We have a surplusof informationatourdisposal which allowsalmostinstantgratificationwhateversubjectwe are searchingfor. Yetwe rarely discriminate betweenpoororgoodinformation.We alsouse technologyinwaysthat increasinglyremove usfromdirecthumaninteraction; virtual friendsdominate ourglobal networkof vulnerableconnections. The cumulative effectof all thisisthat humanscale of thingsdisappearswithitscontact,cooperationandreciprocity. 7. Intoxicatedby eloquence ofour own verbosity Asprofessionalswe use jargonanda vocabularythatalienatesthe publicbutalsodividesusintoourownprofessionalsilos.We all championOUR ideaor theoryas superiortootherdisciplinesanddefendourown positions.We rarelyembrace andpromote whatunitesusall. 8. We aren’t necessarilydoomed:Those of us whocare aboutthe environmenttendtospeak indoom andgloomnarratives. Thissimplyturnspeople off asprioritiesforthe environment are noton theirradar. We have extremelypoorPRandfail dismallytogetourmessage across. Soit begsthe questionwhywe don’tspendmore resourcesonusingprofessionalsto getour keymessagesacrossmore positively.
- 2. 9. People are at the heart of the environment: People shouldbe atthe centre of decisionswe make and to that endwe needtoorchestrate more people centredapproachesthatuse skillsof people more constructively.There issomuchtime spentbypeople fightingthings whichcouldsurelybe divertedtomore profitable andsustainable ventures.Keyisgetting decisionmakerstoinvolvepeople before plansanddecisionsare made. 10. Break boundariesand silomentality:Behavioural change isneeded aswe are all lockedinto systems andworkpractices that make it hard toescape from. In seekingnew avenues partnershipsofferanopportunityspace thatcuts across boundaries inpursuitof more fluid and stickystructures.