Organizations eliminate what can't be measured, then wonder why things break.
Zhuangzi's parable: a gnarled tree survives because it's "useless" for exploitation.
Organizations optimizing everything are like carpenters turning every tree into furniture—they cut down what sustains them.
The cost? Mental health claims up 80%, $20K/person in healthcare costs.
What looks unproductive often preserves what matters most.
https://terraphilosophica.substack.com/p/the-useless-tree-what-organizations #philosophy #leadership #organizations #mentalhealth