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- The Power of Metaphors in Personal and Organizational Transformation
- A Transformative Journey: From Mountains to Desert Dunes
- The Magic of the Desert: A Catalyst for Change
- Shifting Sands: A New Paradigm for Organizational Change
- Applying Desert Wisdom to Diverse Contexts
- Navigating the Shifting Sands of Change: A Decade Later
- Key Lessons from Desert Metaphors for Effective Change Management
The Power of Metaphors in Personal and Organizational Transformation
“How big is the top of Mount Everest?” “About the size of a small kitchen table,” he responded. “That is amazing,” I said, “You know when you cross the Sahara Desert, there is no way of knowing where the desert ends. There is no peak, no border, no sign that says, ‘You are now leaving the Sahara Desert – Have a nice Day!'”
– From Steve Donahue’s Shifting Sands.
Metaphors not only shape our lives but also reveal our inner thoughts and how we communicate with others. They can both liberate and constrain our minds. After a childhood pilgrimage to Sabarimala and being captivated by Ekanath Easwaran’s spiritual classic, Climbing the Blue Mountain, and Jack Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, mountains became etched in my mind as metaphors for summits—be they spiritual or secular endeavors.
All of this changed in an instant.
A Transformative Journey: From Mountains to Desert Dunes
Nearly twelve years ago, I landed at Lekhwair airport and found myself on the edge of the vast Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali in Arabic), a sand desert spanning approximately 650,000 square kilometers across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Yemen, and Oman. To emphasize its immensity, it stretches 1,000 kilometers long and 500 kilometers wide, with reddish-orange sand dunes reaching heights of up to 250 meters.
Gabriel Benet, Said, Rukmuddin Kahan, and I formed a team working on a transformation project for PDO, Oman. As a change management consultant, I collaborated with Rukmuddin, our system architect; Said, a seasoned petroleum engineer with three decades of experience; and Gab, our project manager, a die-hard Barcelona football fan. Our fieldwork took us to nearly all of PDO’s oil fields, including Lekhwair.
The Magic of the Desert: A Catalyst for Change
Lekhwair camp was a considerable distance from the airport. Our Land Cruiser driver, a long-time PDO employee from Kerala (not far from my hometown), suggested a desert excursion, especially under a full moon. He drove us close to the convergence of the Saudi Arabian, UAE, and Omani borders. As we left the camp lights behind and ventured into the vastness, we fell silent. The reddish-orange sand shimmered under the moonlight, and the universe seemed to hold its breath. The interplay of light and shadow on the dunes, the celestial canvas of shimmering stars, and the bold, full moon created a magical moment. We were utterly captivated.
This experience ignited my love for the desert. Books by Thesiger, Saint-Exupéry, and Donahue became essential reading. Until then, my knowledge of Arabia was limited to The Arabian Nights, with its tales of Aladdin and Sindbad rather than the desert’s beauty. The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga came much later.
Shifting Sands: A New Paradigm for Organizational Change
Shifting Sands—a guidebook for navigating change—revolutionized my understanding of organizational transformation. It challenged rigid, one-size-fits-all theories and emphasized the uniqueness of each context and its people. From then on, my focus shifted from mandated change to the transformation of individuals within their specific environments. This compass has guided me in personal growth, coaching clients, and working with organizations and ecosystems.
Applying Desert Wisdom to Diverse Contexts
As a member of a residential apartment complex committee, I shared a principle with my high-achieving colleagues: Every organization is different—an army, corporation, club, or cricket team. Blindly applying past successes without adapting our mindset can hinder our effectiveness as change agents. These thoughts raced through my mind as I looked at a picture of a mountain labeled “Now,” “Next Year,” and “Later.” Our ICF Bangalore Chapter president was discussing the organization’s plans for the coming year.
How do I balance the needs of my teenage sons with my work colleagues and clients? How can I apply these principles to my Bodhi Sangha community? Do I truly practice what I preach, or do I succumb to the pressure of time and apply generic solutions?
Searching for my old notes, I found a summary titled, “How do you navigate in the shifting sands of desert of change?” dated January 7, 2014. Ten years later, the pace of change has accelerated exponentially. While we plan for yesterday, tomorrow is already knocking. We must resist the urge to rush in with ready-made solutions. Remember the proverb, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” Festina lente—make haste slowly—should be our guiding principle as change catalysts. Einstein’s advice to spend most of our problem-solving time understanding the problem holds true in our work as well. Whether coaching an individual, leading a family, managing a project, or transforming an organization, we must focus on understanding the context and the people within it.
Want to learn more about navigating change through a systemic lens? Stay tuned for more insights.
Key Lessons from Desert Metaphors for Effective Change Management
Summary of Key Points Metaphors offers valuable lessons for change management:
- Understand the terrain. What works in one environment may not work in another.
- Use a compass, not a map. Trust your intuition and sense of purpose.
- Lower your gaze. Focus on the present moment.
- Stop pushing. Sometimes, letting go is the key to personal growth.
- Know when to duck. Avoid unnecessary conflict in organizational change.
Acknowledgment: Thank you to Wilfred Thesiger, Steve Donahue, Edmund Hillary, and Jon Krakauer for their insightful work on personal transformation and overcoming challenges.
What is your context for change? Is it a mountain, desert, river, canyon, urban apartment complex, or AI startup? Pause before rushing in with a plan for organizational transformation.
Understanding the intricate web of relationships and influences that drive change is crucial. Systemic coaching offers a profound lens into this complexity. To truly master the art of navigating change and creating lasting transformations, join our Mega Systemic Team Coaching program. Not only will you gain a deep understanding of systemic principles, but you’ll also be well-prepared to earn your ICF ACTC credential.
