“That’s not in our DNA.” This is a common organizational metaphor. Heck, we often say this as individuals. It is often an excuse not to change.
Just like our physical DNA is not quite stagnate, so too is our metaphorical DNA capable of modification. No doubt there are aspects of our organizations and selves that cannot change—those things that make us unique (physically, this would be things like eye color, etc.). Nevertheless, the genes (physical or metaphorical) that affect how we function can be affected by our environment. In biology, this is referred to as “epigenetics”—the study of how environmental factors and behaviors can cause changes to gene activity without altering the DNA sequence. Pretty cool stuff, in my opinion.
So, metaphorically, our organizational DNA (and individual “DNA”) can be and will be affected by our environment and the choices we make—how we respond to the environment or circumstances affecting us. Biology is teaching us that we have some level of control over physical functioning. The social sciences have known this for years.
What I find most fascinating about epigenetics is how our interactions with the environment affect not only our DNA and function but also the functioning of our children and grandchildren. It isn’t much of a leap to extend this to the organizational DNA metaphor.
I am in academics, so I have seen the impact of this organizational DNA metaphor. I have seen the positive and the negative “methylations” of university DNA with attempts to change (or resistance to change). I have the current opportunity to serve on a transitional team with my church. It was an aha moment when the topic of DNA was brought by the moderator and my physiologist brain connected this to my current interest in epigenetics. Understanding the significance of our (metaphorical) DNA—who we are at our very core—is an important consideration in the process of change. Likewise, the metaphor of epigenetics plays a critical role in our capacity to grow and function more effectively. We must consider what can and needs to be “upregulated/downregulated” or “turned on/off” to function (i.e., survive) in the current environment. Physically, function and dysfunction are controlled by the epigenetics of our DNA. Organizationally, it is no different.
So, if we are going to adapt to an ever-changing environment, we must refine our decision making. We must take control of our “DNA” and recognize how we need to function more effectively to survive. Daily reflection and introspection are critical to personal growth (just like frequent needs and process assessments are critical to well-functioning organizations.
We are not the victims of our DNA. Such an attitude dooms one in a changing environment—in a changing world. Instead, we need to consider how our uniqueness can be tweaked to….
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!!