Dominant but not stable – HR message from green leaves

Why leaves turn yellow with age or during autumn seasons, otherwise they are rich green at the beginning? This question has great relevance and appropriateness to the modern corporate. The corporate leaders must understand the fact that not the ‘abundant and dominant’ gives or determines the stable identity of anything but only the stable ones do that. The leaf of most plants contains a pigment that constitutes about 90% is chlorophyll - the green pigment. This pigment only gives a green colour to the leaves and helps the plant synthesise carbohydrate through the process of photosynthesis. This is the reason why the leaves of most plants appear green in the beginning.

The interesting thing is that the pigment chlorophyll is very sensitive to light. It easily gets disintegrated when exposed to light. The other pigments in the leaves of the plant that constitutes very less proportion with reference to the abundant chlorophyll are carotene and anthocyanin. These pigments don't get affected by light and hence remain stable. The leaves when mature or turns old or falls off from the tree and become yellow just prior to that. This is because the green pigment chlorophyll disintegrates and disappears. Once the green pigment disappears, the other stable pigments, carotene and anthocyanin impart yellow and or red colour to the leaves. Their expression occurs only when the leaves loose the dominant chlorophyll.

The above biologic event that happens in leaves i.e. appear green in the beginning and turn yellow at the end conveys two important management messages to the corporate viz.,

1. It is not the one who is dominant or has abundant decision-making power gives stability but only the one who are stable and resists the odds and adversities can make the difference.

2. The stable players may not be seen or visible especially when the dominant one is there in the scene. Therefore, we should not assume there are no stable/consistent players.

Even for the scientists to know about the existence other pigments, the leaves had to loose the dominant pigment – chlorophyll. The corporate needs both types of people those who can make a difference and those who can keep things stable and strong. Understand the fact that the most stable colour of the leaves is not green but the yellow.

Those who can make a difference may not be stable. Once the difference is made, they may even lose their charisma and capability. The stable player may appear silent and expressionless when the dominant factor is present.

One should never get lost to what is seen dominant as really dominant but also must look for its stability. This message only the colour changing leaves of plants during different seasons profoundly communicates to the corporate.

Dr S Ranganathan