From Monoculture to Microforest

How the Miyawaki Approach Can Transform Your Organisation

Alongside breakneck change and relentless disruption, organisations and teams are so tempted to focus solely on the big picture – the macroeconomic trends, the industry dynamics, the distant competitive landscape and their own growth in size. But what if the secret to thriving in this volatile environment lies not in looking outward, but in cultivating a focussed, cooperative and densely packed microcosm within?

Enter the Miyawaki method, a revolutionary approach to forest restoration that I believe could very well be adapted so that it reshapes the way we think about growth and resilience. Pioneered by the late Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, this technique harnesses the power of native species, dense planting, and natural selection to create thriving microforests that are 30 times denser and grow 10 times faster than conventionally planted forests. It is part of the Microforest Collective’s model in it’s hybrid adaptation of just this principle that sees huge opportunity for climate action, sustainability and biodiversity.

At the same time, the implications for business are profound.

Just as the Miyawaki forest thrives by embracing the diverse needs and intricate interactions of its interconnected bits, businesses, teams, organisations and government divisions can unlock their true potential by adopting a more regenerative mindset.

It's time to stop looking at how far out you can go, but at how far in.  

Start cultivating the microcosm within.

By adapting Miyawaki’s method, I’ve created an initial draft thought here as a blueprint for resilience, sustainability and cohesion.  

This version adapted from SUGi Project’s model seen here

From this method, there are key components:

Diverse Teams: The Native Species of Your Organization

Like the carefully curated mix of indigenous plants in a Miyawaki forest, your greatest strength lies in the diversity of your workforce. Each employee brings a unique set of skills, perspectives, and cultural experiences – the proverbial "native species" that, when planted in close proximity, cross-pollinate ideas and foster innovative solutions.

But are you truly nurturing this diversity, or are you content to let it languish in the shadows of homogeneous thinking? The future belongs to those who can harness the power of cognitive dissonance, who can embrace the creative tension that arises when divergent viewpoints collide.

Nurturing Environment: Enriching the Organisational Soil

The rapid growth of a Miyawaki forest is made possible by the careful preparation of the soil, which is infused with organic matter to nourish the young saplings. In the same way, your culture acts as the fertile ground that enables its people to thrive. By investing in operationalising your values, providing proper resources, and authentic learning opportunities, you can create an environment that supports the holistic development of your team.

It's not enough to simply pay lip service to the idea of "culture."

You better be willing to get your hands dirty, to cultivate an ecosystem that is as dynamic and ever-changing as the people who live in it. After all, what good is a lush canopy if the roots are left to wither?

Collaborative Efforts: The Power of Dense Planting

Just as the method encourages close planting to stimulate competition and cooperation, embrace the potential of your teams. When people are given the opportunity to work closely together, they are more likely to challenge each other, share knowledge, and achieve higher levels of performance as a collective.

But beware the siren song of silo-driven success. In a world where agility is the new currency, those who prioritise individual achievements over collective growth will find themselves left behind. It's time to break down the walls, to create a dense thicket of cross-functional connection where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Layered Structure: Building Organizational Depth

Natural forests have a diverse layering of vegetation, from the canopy trees to the understory shrubs. Likewise, successful organisations and businesses cultivate a multi-tiered structure that supports the growth and development of people at all levels, from entry-level roles to seasoned leadership.

Remember though, this isn't about creating a rigid hierarchy. It's about fostering a dynamic system where ideas and insights flow freely, where the next great innovation might just as easily bubble up as it might cascade down.

Adaptability: Embracing Natural Selection

Nature is allowed to take its course with Miyawaki, promoting self-sustainability and resilience. By emulating this approach, you can foster adaptability, an organisation where people are empowered to navigate change, experiment with new ideas, and evolve alongside any shifting landscape.

But the true test of adaptability lies not in your ability to weather the storm, but in your capacity to thrive in the middle of chaos.

Are you creating an environment where risk-taking is celebrated, where failure is seen as a stepping stone to innovation? Or are you content to hunker down, clinging to the false security of the status quo and conventional wisdom?

The lessons of the Miyawaki forest extend beyond even these core principles.

Consider the idea of "local insight" – the deep understanding of the unique characteristics and needs of the surrounding environment. Just as native species are perfectly suited to their local ecosystems, organisations, their leaders and their people, must develop a keen awareness of their specific market, cultural, and regulatory contexts to thrive.

Imagine a world where your strategy wasn't a one-size-fits-all playbook, but a living, breathing entity that adapts to the ever-shifting needs of your customers. Where your product development roadmap wasn't a rigid timeline, but a dynamic exploration of emerging trends and user desires. Where your structure wasn't a static hierarchy, but a fluid network of cross-pollinating talent.

This isn't just something resigned to the back pages of possibility – it's the reality that the Miyawaki method is unveiling, one microforest at a time.

And those that have the courage to embrace this regenerative approach will be the ones that truly flourish in the years to come.

So, what are you waiting for? It's time to stop looking outward and start cultivating the microcosm within. The future just might depend on it.