Organisational Metaphor

Imagine a tree in its simplest form, the trunk represents the structure of your organisation. It’s branches and leaves represent your policies and procedures, finances and goals.

This is the task part of your business, the part that is seen. And if this were the sum total of your organisation it wouldn’t achieve the goal.

However, there is another element to the tree and that is the roots. This is the process part of your business, the part that can often be unseen.

You see, the roots, represent your people, individuals with their beliefs and values, their feelings and emotions, their interpretations and perceptions, even their ability to communicate effectively as well as feeling empowered and fully engaged.

Without healthy roots your organisation would not operate as it should and, like the tree, has the potential of being stunted or even worst, cease to exist.

You see, the roots represent the very life of your organisation, functioning within its defined structure to provide a service or manufacture a product fit for your customers.

If any part of the root system begins to malfunction, the affects are felt not just in the roots, but the whole tree, your organisation.