Explore Metaphors and Unlock the Potential of Your Organization

Baldwin & Guggisberg, Amphora Metaphor (Handblown and cut glass), 2022

Metaphors are powerful tools. Tread lightly.

"How should we be able to forget those ancient myths that are at the beginning of all peoples, the myths about dragons that at the last moment turn into princesses; perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. Perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest being something helpless that wants help from us." -Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet, Letter 8, August 12th, 1904

“Poetry is the way we help give name to the nameless so it can be thought.” -Audre Lorde, Poetry Is Not a Luxury, 1985

In the dynamic world of organizations, where human experiences and emotions intertwine with structures and processes, metaphors offer a powerful lens through which to unlock hidden potential. Metaphors help us understand complex realities by drawing on our everyday experiences, emotions, and imagination. By translating abstract concepts into visual representations and familiar terms, they enable us to see organizations, leadership, and change in a new light. Like dreams, metaphors can “open a window” onto deep emotional knowledge that shapes our behavior but that we have not yet been able to consciously acknowledge - what contemporary psychoanalyst Christopher Bollas calls the “unthought known”. Playfully exploring metaphors and seriously engaging with them can transform how we interact, lead, and create in the workplace.

The Power of Metaphor in Organizational Life

At first glance, metaphors might seem like mere figures of speech. However, they are far more than decorative language; they shape our perceptions and actions. As human beings, we are narrative-making organisms and metaphors continuously fill and structure our inner narrative, influencing over how we see the world around us and how we understand ourselves. Metaphors mediate between us and our experience and relations with others. As the word itself suggests (coming from ancient Greece and meaning "to carry across"), metaphors carry meaning from one domain to another, helping us conceptualize the unfamiliar by relating it to the familiar. For example, in organizations, we often refer to "climbing the corporate ladder" or describe departments as "melting pots." These expressions evoke vivid images and emotions, helping to clarify complex ideas and dynamics, eventually influencing how we react and respond to situations and behave with others.

In organizational life, metaphors guide how we think about leadership, teamwork, and even organizational change. They help us approach abstract concepts like strategy or culture by grounding them in sensory and bodily experiences.

The process of metaphors acquisition begins in childhood when we unconsciously learn to associate physical sensations with abstract ideas. Thus, metaphors are embedded in the very way we think and speak, often without us realizing it.

Metaphors as Tools for Transformation

Organizations are not static machines but living systems, constantly evolving and adapting. When we use metaphors, we tap into this dynamic nature, opening up new possibilities for growth. For instance, the metaphor of the organization as a machine, which emphasizes control, efficiency, and predictability, may be limiting in today's complex, fast-changing environments. On the other hand, seeing the organization as a living system—an organism that adapts, learns, and grows—can inspire a more flexible, creative approach to leadership and change management. By using metaphors to describe the change process, leaders can help teams make better sense of the transition, aligning the organization's goals with the natural rhythms of its people.

Metaphors and Leadership

Leadership itself is shaped by the metaphors we use. Every metaphor carries implicit assumptions about values, behaviors, and outcomes. For example, leaders who see themselves as "warriors" may focus on competition and victory, while those who see themselves as "gardeners" may emphasize nurturing growth and fostering collaboration. These leadership metaphors influence not only how leaders behave but also how their teams perceive and respond to them.

Leaders who consciously explore their own metaphors can gain deeper insights into their leadership style and values. Asking oneself, "What is my leadership metaphor?" can be a powerful exercise in self-reflection. A leader who sees leadership as "juggling" may recognize the constant balancing act of managing competing priorities. Meanwhile, one who views leadership as "building a bridge" may be focused on connecting people and ideas.

Metaphors can also help leaders communicate more effectively. As humans, we are emotional beings, and metaphors allow us to connect with these emotions. Describing a team's struggles as "climbing a mountain" or a leader as "the captain of a ship navigating stormy seas" can evoke a sense of shared purpose and resilience. These images not only make abstract concepts more relatable but also help individuals verbalize their emotions, creating space for honest conversations about challenges and aspirations.

Metaphors as Pathways to Emotional Learning

In organizations, emotional learning—the process of gaining insights through emotions and experiences—often gets overlooked in favor of rational, logical approaches. Yet, as living beings, our thoughts and emotions are deeply interconnected. Metaphors provide a bridge between these realms, allowing us to articulate and explore emotions that might otherwise remain unspoken.

For instance, when a team describes their workplace as "a zoo" or a "battlefield," these metaphors convey not just the chaos or tension they feel but also their emotional experience of the organization. Such metaphors can reveal underlying issues that need to be addressed, helping leaders and teams navigate difficult conversations about power dynamics, roles, and expectations.

The Poetic Brain and the Unconscious

In our quest to optimize performance and efficiency, organizations sometimes neglect the importance of imagination and emotion. Yet, these are key elements of creativity and innovation. Informed by systems psychodynamics, some approaches to organizational development invite us to reconnect with what might be called the "poetic brain"—the part of our mind that operates through metaphor, analogy, and association, rather than strict logic.

Metaphors help bring the unconscious to the surface. They offer a way to explore the unspoken dynamics within organizations—the fears, desires, and tensions that influence behavior but often remain hidden. By embracing the metaphors that emerge from our imagination, we can better understand the emotional undercurrents that shape organizational life and use them to unleash new potential.

Conclusion: Choosing Metaphors Wisely

Metaphors are more than just words; they shape how we experience and navigate the world. In organizations, they can either constrain or unleash potential. By consciously choosing and reflecting on the metaphors we use, we can create more dynamic, emotionally intelligent organizations that embrace change, foster creativity, and enable individuals to thrive. Leadership, in particular, is deeply influenced by the metaphors we choose.

Ultimately, metaphors help us see beyond the limitations of the present and imagine new possibilities. They remind us that organizations, like individuals, are alive, constantly evolving and capable of transformation. Through metaphor, we can unlock the hidden potential that lies within our teams and ourselves, opening up new pathways for growth and innovation.


Bibliographical Inspirations
Bollas, C. (2018). The Shadow of the Object. Psychoanalysis of the Unthought Known.  Abingdon: Routledge.
Capra, F. (2004). The Hidden Connections – A Science for Sustainable Living. New York: Anchor Books.
Damasio, A. (2012). Aucun souvenir assez solide. Paris : Gallimard.
De Luca, E. (2023). Grandeur nature. Paris : Gallimard.
Rouaud, J. (2024). Flamboiement de la métaphore. Paris : Gallimard.