SUMMER ' 18
Evolutionary biologist and author Dr . Tamsin Woolley-Barker is on a mission to change how companies work by tapping the power of nature — an emerging field called biomimicry . “ Biomimicry is the art and science of innovation inspired by nature ,” she says . “ Every creature alive has been shaped by 3.8 billion years of R & D . Anything that failed is a fossil , and the survivors are proven winners . There is so much we can learn — nature really is a bottomless treasure trove of innovation .”
Fortune magazine agrees , calling Biomimicry the # 1 trend in business . GeckSkin ’ s reusable tape was inspired by geckos , Velcro mimics sticky seed burrs , and Michael Phelps ’ swimsuits were patterned on sharkskin . But biomimicry is inspiring more than just products . It ’ s also a great way to design organizations as well . “ After ten years working with Fortune 500s , I ’ ve been surprised by the level of inertia and frustration ,” says Dr . Woolley-Barker . “ Engineers and designers get superexcited about the work we do , but game-changing ideas often go nowhere because these companies aren ’ t designed to change . Creative people get resigned to the status quo and disengage or move on .”
Dr . Woolley-Barker wants to change that . Her book TEEMING : How Superorganisms Work to Build Infinite Wealth in a Finite World draws on the simple principles used by nature ’ s most ancient and successful organizations to survive and thrive . How do ants and honeybees work together in a changing world ? How can we redesign our companies to do the same ?
“ These teams innovate and grow in value from one generation to the next , with no org chart , meetings , or managers ,” says Woolley-Barker . “ The 4Ds start with People — and the ants do too ! We often assume ants are a clone army , but that couldn ’ t be further from the truth . Each one has its own personality and skills . You can tell individuals apart by their behavior .”
Every individual does whatever they think best in the moment , using their own style and approach , and it turns out this is the root of their success . Gathering diversity is a queen ant ’ s first and most important job , and the colony will fail without it . But the most critical factor behind a beehive ’ s success is their shared purpose . They are bound together by their drive to grow the future and make more with each generation .
Companies can apply these same lessons . Like ants , we can focus on building cultures that embrace change as a source of inspiration . We can cultivate diversity and experimentation , encourage individual freedom and initiative , and design rhythms and habits that keep people aligned around a compelling shared purpose . When our work matters and we feel empowered , companies flourish like the growing living things they are meant to be . Scaling up comes naturally .
MEET TAMSIN WOOLLEY-BARKER
Dr . Tamsin Woolley-Barker is a BioInspired Innovation Consultant , Researcher , Professor , and Author . She is an independent Biologist at the Design Table with organizations like Biomimicry 3.8 and the Biomimicry Institute , and a frequent contributor for The Biomimicry Institute ' s AskNature website . Her book , TEEMING : How Superorganisms Work for Infinite Wealth in a Finite World is available from White Cloud Press .
Her passion for living systems is complimented by an extensive background in business , design , and sustainability , with 12 years as co-founder and CEO of a successful Media Arts company , sold in 2011 . She has worked in Biotechnology Marketing , Corporate Sustainability Reporting , Leadership Development , and as the Content Developer for the California Association of Museums ’ groundbreaking Green Museums Initiative , a program which has since gone national .
A prolific writer , she contributes regularly to various magazines , including ' Digital Magazine of the Year ' finalist Zygote Quarterly , Triple Pundit , and GreenBiz . Her regular column , ‘ The Biomimicry Manual ,’ appears on Inhabitat . com , a sustainable design magazine with a circulation of over 3 million . www . drtamsin . com