Ripples And Undercurrents

Many mornings, after I drop off my two boys at school, I stop at a lakeside trail head on the way home. A short walk through the woods leads to a serene shoreline with a sweeping lake view. There are two benches, but I usually opt for the fallen log that is lodged halfway in the water and take a few minutes to breathe in nature.

Most mornings, I am alone, save for the occasional paddle-boarders, who create a predictable ripple as they move through the water. But sometimes, the glassy reflection of the water is broken suddenly from underneath, by an unseen fish nipping from below the water’s surface. Sometimes, this unexpected ripple expands enough to reach all the way to my feet.

In organizations too, actions cause ripples. There are of course, clearly visible actions that generate predictable ripples like the paddle-boarders. But there are also unseen actions that exist just below the surface – both good and bad – and they too, send ripples through your organization.