Size diversity in nature – Are we lost in comparison than our role? A HR message

Why so much of size variability/diversity among different species of plants and animals. Some animals are so small and we require a magnifying glass or microscope to see and while other animals like a blue whale, we cannot even see them ‘end to end’ from proximity. Why so much of size disparity among different species like for example, cat and tiger?

If we focus our discussion only to mammals, still we can find enormous size variability between mice to an elephant to the blue whale. Why has nature not created all species of animals relatively in the same size? If we travel a little deep inside the facts, we can unravel the great management message of nature. Nature has never been partial to any particular life form. It has shown and done equal justice to all its creation. Similarly, nature also has given equal opportunity to perform and reap the reward.

All animals on earth, irrespective of their size, the ‘greed to eat more’ and ‘need to procreate’ are same. If we have any sophisticated measuring device or gadget, the urge of bacteria in eating and the incredible urgency of bacteria to multiply are essentially as same as that of an elephant or blue whale or man. So nature has never made bacteria to have less interest in eating and multiplication and elephant to have more interest in the above.

Imagine, if all animals were of the same size, the existence of such diversity of flora and fauna are not possible on earth. Instead of not being unfair to different species by giving less or more need to eat and procreate, nature has created them in different sizes. The size variability of different species of animals and plants automatically balances the system and safeguard the macrocosm from over-predation, over-exploitation and over dominance. Further, different roles (ecological niche) were also given to different species.

The message to be learned by the corporate leadership is that every individual in the organization, whether they are working on the lowest ladder in the hierarchy or the CEO’s and COO’s, all of them have equal desire for security, professional growth, have the same level of social and family respect, need rest and relaxation. This cardinal principle of people especially at the helm of affairs in corporate should neglect. The argument is not about giving equal salary to all people.

Nature has made every species of life on earth with such distinction. But it has artfully and wisely managed the equation by creating differences in sizes and roles of different animals and plants so either the need or greed will automatically get limited by their body size.

If the above management wisdom of nature is not understood, only disparity becomes the counter product. But on the contrary, in corporate life, in the place of body size, the designation must bring right awareness among people so that they will not breed sadness due to meaningless comparison. Imagine if nature had ever followed the same rule of same body size, many species would have extinct by now.

The final message is how we limit our limitations and needs and let not get lost in unholy comparison and breed sadness.

Dr S Ranganathan