Dinosaurs and Reciprocity: Building a Sustainable Workplace

The idea of bringing back the dinosaurs has impressed scientists, filmmakers, as well as dinosaur enthusiasts. The “Jurassic Park” movie splash depicts just how attractive this possibility is. Erasing the notion of cloning dinosaurs, there is a profound philosophical message behind it. The return of the dinosaurs does not in any way mean giant dinosaurs roaming our working corridors. It implies the acceptance of the historical mutual interaction between dinosaurs and the rest of the world. As for dinosaurs, they also partook in the earth’s products and served them. These innovations kept the balance inside nature in check and sustained for thousands of millennia, yes, millennials. This is why we need to look at early concepts and the objectives of the prehistoric period and integrate them into our workplace.

Dinosaurs have remained an integral part of our ecosystem, and even after extinction, their fossils maintain an ecological balance. Dinosaurs consumed plants and other organisms and used trees and caves for shelter. However, they gave back to the environment through their droppings and fossils. Their droppings ensured soil enrichment and increased biodiversity. Carnivorous dinosaurs kept the prey population in control, maintaining the food web. After extinction, their fossils and remains contributed to the earth’s geological structure and continue to provide us with natural resources. This reciprocal relationship is an example of us creating a system where we can also give back to nature what we have taken from it.

A sustainable organisational balance is a significant next step for the cause. Here are some ways we can foster sustainable growth.

1.      Our planet was much greener and beautiful at the time of dinosaurs. Spreading awareness of the importance of sustainability and adopting environment-friendly practices is a good way to bring the greens back. Planting outdoor gardens or rooftop greens enhances the office space and improves biodiversity.

2.      Dinosaurs roamed the earth without needing carbon-fueled vehicles that could pollute the environment. Workplaces can introduce incentives that prompt individuals to commute to work on bicycles, public transport, or carpool.

3.      Dinosaurs used resources and gave back in return. We can adopt this approach by minimising waste and normalising circular economic products that can be reused as new products.

4.      Dinosaurs left a legacy, a treasure of fossils that provide us with raw materials and knowledge. In the workplace, we can foster a culture of innovation to ensure that today’s ideas leave behind a legacy beneficial for future generations.

5.      Organisational leaders can follow the symbiotic relationship by ensuring a healthy balance in their workplace. This can be done by leaders nurturing their teams and providing them with opportunities for growth and rewards for accomplishment. In return, the employees can give back their effort and creativity, fueling the organisation’s success.

6.      The best way to adopt the dinosaur’s give-and-take philosophy is by practicing organisational carbon offsetting. Carbon offsetting is a trading mechanism to compensate for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions an organisation causes by investing in companies to remove or reduce the same amount of emissions. This way, we are one step closer to the pollution-free air that dinosaurs were allowed to breathe.

It is possible for organisations to extend sustainable practices by forming relationships with non-profit environmental organisations to change the world. It appears highly advisable to engage in workplace discussions about the need for achieving carbon neutrality and green earth because it reminds employees how collective efforts are made. The world inhabited by dinosaurs, which was green, can also be rejuvenated by partnerships.

In short, they cannot come back to life, but their ideology is feasible, and the lessons that dinosaurs could teach us will always remain relevant. Applying the principles of reciprocity, it is possible to make the conditions in the workplace entirely suitable to support employees and organisations and to preserve the planet’s resources. This give-and-take perspective can be taken practically to help society create a new positive direction for the future.