Summer in the Vineyard
Focus
As we consider the ultimate goal of sustainable flourishing in life and leadership, the summer season in the vineyard has many valuable metaphors to live by. Themes such as struggle, hard work, patience, and metabolizing adversity come forward during a summer retreat through metaphors drawn from dry farming, canopy management, and photosynthesis. Metaphors provide a framework for interpreting experiences and making decisions. Sometimes flourishing is as simple as changing the metaphor.
“If you want to change the world you have to change the metaphor.”
Vineyard Context
I had the privilege of meeting with an amazing, high-functioning executive team of six in the gorgeous A. Rafanelli vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County last week on the hottest day of the year! Fortunately, it was a “dry heat,” (Arizona people know what this means!) and we were tucked in under the shade of a huge oak tree with a light breeze to cool things down. Let me take you on a walk through our time together.
We started out with a splash of rosé, some quiche, croissants, and strawberries as we gathered on a Wednesday. Eventually, the chatter gave way to a moment of quiet enjoyment of the sounds of the vineyard and the stunning view of the cabernet vines in the morning light.
Everyone was invited to place their devices into the “winter box” where they could be dormant for a while. We all, rather hesitant but mostly grateful, unplugged from the chaos and noise of everyday life. After a mindful reflection, we started our short teaching on the cycles and rhythms of the seasons, ending where we were literally sitting – in the middle of summer!
As the sun rose higher in the sky, we scattered for a slow, attentive walk through the vineyard. Some rows of vines were neatly trimmed and tucked up onto the trellis, with the fallen shoots and leaves scattered on the ground. The hard, green grape berries were more visible on these vines. Other rows had unruly shoots and leaves impeding the stroll and hiding the berries. What could we learn from the vineyard, the vines, the leaves, and the grape berries in this season? If we listened closely enough, could we hear the teaching of the vine? These questions framed our curiosity.
Reconnecting at the picnic table between the lake and the first row of vines, we gathered to discuss and ask questions. We talked about the importance of canopy management, and how attending to the leaves on the vine in particular ways naturally produces better fruit. It takes roughly 15 good leaves on a shoot to produce the energy needed to support one cluster of grapes. Producing fruit is not a “one-leaf” operation! The ratio of leaves to fruit is important, but so is the placement of leaves. Taking leaves off the side of the vine that gets less sun and leaving leaves to cover fruit that could get sunburned is a strategic way to optimize good fruit. How might this metaphor inform the way we care for our team?
We enjoyed a sumptuous wine-country picnic with wine made from the grapes from the property, then moved into the cave to get some relief from the heat.
Once inside, we engaged in the topic of photosynthesis, which is the main work of the leaves – metabolizing toxic carbon dioxide in the presence of sunlight and water to produce the sweetness which feeds the fruit, while exhaling oxygen to the world.
Instead of talking about photosynthesis in the abstract, we made play dough models of the chemical process. Yep! It’s fun to work with play dough, but it’s more than that. Did you know that playing and using your hands to create something helps to integrate both sides of your brain? In the process, we discovered some challenges the team was facing as well as some potential solutions that would support the team and the company going forward. The magic of play dough!
Returning to the shade of the oak tree, we finished by contemplating water and the role it plays in the hot summer months. Contrary to what we might think, too much water makes “flabby” grapes and dilutes the flavor of the wine. A vine that struggles to find water, pushing its roots deep into the rocks below, produces grapes with more concentrated flavors which make beautiful wine. Metaphorically, then, we might begin to wonder how the struggles or limitations we are facing right now might lead us to better outcomes.
After recovering our devices from the “winter dormancy” box, we headed back to town. Later that evening, in the wine library at Hotel Healdsburg, we enjoyed a magnificent winemaker’s dinner, highlighting Mauritson wines.
With full hearts, bodies, and minds, we rested well and returned the following day to the Moss Room where we debriefed and put an action plan in place. While there’s not enough space here to share all the ideas and potential changes, here are a couple that floated to the top. The team realized they needed to shift the corporate language of “work/life balance” to something more organic and sustainable like “seasonal rhythms” that could honor the more intense seasons of work… like summer in the vineyard! Keying into the play dough models of photosynthesis, more conversation ensued around toxins in their corporate culture, and some possible antidotes emerged. The team now has a new metaphor, a new framework, for discussing some important issues in their intense, high-growth season.
Applications for Flourishing
As we consider the ultimate goal of sustainable flourishing in life and leadership, the summer season in the vineyard has many valuable metaphors to live by.Themes such as struggle, hard work, patience, and metabolizing adversity come forward during a summer retreat through metaphors drawn from dry farming, canopy management, and photosynthesis. Metaphors provide a framework for interpreting experiences and making decisions. Sometimes flourishing is as simple as changing the metaphor. Author Joseph Campbell who wrote about global myths said, “If you want to change the world you have to change the metaphor.” Perhaps, it’s time for a new metaphor!
Personal Flourishing – Sometimes we can get discouraged with our struggles in life. Could a new metaphor of “the vine that struggles makes the best wine” help you detach from comparing yourself to others who don’t seem to struggle in the same way? Maybe it would help if you remember that you are producing hearty grapes that will make beautiful wine!
Team Flourishing – The summer metaphor of canopy management might be helpful for your team. Imagine a vine trying to produce grapes with just one big leaf as its support and protection. It’s not going to happen! The hard-working leaves—all of them together—create an environment for fruitfulness. The fruit, or the product of your work, needs everyone to do their part.
Corporate Flourishing – Are you struggling with a corporate culture that desires a work/life balance, as if disparate parts of our life could EVER be equal in time, intensity, or investment? Perhaps, a new language of seasonal rhythms is helpful. While being attentive to an individual’s need for rest, or a change in rhythm, sometimes a season of work is simply a high intensity “summer” season. Once the project is finished, or the company reaches a goal, like a “harvest” season, a change of pace will come naturally.
Are you wishing you could bring your team to do a Conversations in the Vineyard retreat?
Every season in the vineyard has metaphors that can inspire sustainable flourishing. We have 40 different metaphors we draw from to serve the goals for your team. Imagine a harvest retreat with themes of integration, generosity, and celebration or a fall retreat that focuses on change, transition, and trust. Winter retreats are beautifully designed to address support systems, cutting back what no longer serves the goals, and hope for the future. Spring retreats lean into new growth and strategies for cultivating nascent ideas and fruitfulness.
Please schedule a call and fill out a Discovery Form. We can work together to customize your team retreat for any season.
Our online and in-person events are a great way to engage the seasonal metaphors for flourishing. Join us!
As always, I’m with you on the journey!
Cheers!