cycles | fall

Just as nature has cycles, so do people, groups, organizations.

It is in this season of fall, the end of harvest and production, that we reflect and can best see our roots.

Working in the environmental field most my life, our work cycles were always deeply connected to the seasons. Restoration construction had a summer season. Botany surveys had a spring season. Species surveys had a spring and summer season. Irrigation efficiency had a late summer and fall season. Funding opportunities had a winter season (and spring!).

But the late fall into winter was always what we called the “slow season.” No because things were actually slow, but it was the time that we were able to reflect on the past years projects, re-look at the workload and goals for our projects, identify what still needed to happen and make plans for the upcoming seasons that adjusted to meet our goals. For me, this became my favorite season: reflection, acknowledgement, planning, collboration.

And all people and organizations have these cycles. Not only have, they should encourage these cycles to better align their work to their roots.

Here are a few things that can focus your and your teams reflection.

• What were our successes this year and what contributed to that success?

• What challenges did we overcome and how?

• What were we not able to accomplish this year and why?

• How are you and the team feeling about this past season(s)? What is needed to support the individuals or groups?

• Lets look back at our roots and goals and compare them to the work we have accomplished and the work we have ahead. Do they align? Are there things that we need to remove or add to better align ourselves?