Leading with Character: Putting Down Roots
When I lived in Arlington, VA, my daily walk took me past an enormous beech tree—probably about 100 years old—with gnarled roots exposed by erosion. Those roots look like a person’s hand reaching out, digging in, and holding on. I admire that tree. From the time it was a seedling, the tree had put down dozens of roots to nourish and sustain it. It may have lost a few branches during passing storms, but despite the hardships imposed by weather and wear, it still stands rugged and tall. To me, that tree is a role model for leader development. Let’s explore why that could be.
Growing Leaders
Gardeners have a saying regarding the growth of a newly-installed plant, shrub, or tree, “The first year is keeps, the second year it creeps, the third year it leaps.” A tree grows slowly at first while channeling all its energy into sending down roots, especially the tap root, which anchors the tree to the Earth. Young leaders are like the new sapling; they need to put down roots. Those roots are core values, good habits, and strong character. As with a sapling, teachers, mentors, coaches and others need to patiently water, fertilize, and prune young leaders to shape their character.
Leader development is hard for both the trainer and trainee. It takes a long time for the tap root to establish. During that period, there’s no apparent growth while the tree, or young leader, is in the “keep” stage of the “keeps, creeps, leaps” progression. That’s where patience comes in, and faith that outward growth will soon start.
Leaping Forward
Once the “creep” stage begins, the tree or young leader enters a risky period of growth. Even with newly established roots, the tree is vulnerable to damage from storms, being stepped on or pulled out, getting shaded out by bigger trees, and much more. It’s during this “creep” stage that the young leader needs a development program that includes careful observation, assessment, and mindful intervention to ensure he or she continues to grow straight up toward the sun.
The reward comes during the “leap” stage. This is when the trainer and trainee both observe rapid progress as the tree, or young leader, puts on a growth spurt and transfers nourishment and strength from the roots up the trunk, and out along the branches to produce buds, leaves, and fruit. These initial phases of leader development—the keeps, creeps, and leaps stages—are crucial for a young leader to develop the core values and character needed to withstand the storms of life.
A Virtuous Cycle
As with a tree, there will be storms to weather and challenges to overcome. But with strong roots, a leader of character will continue to grow and stand firm. And in maturing, he or she will become part of the virtuous cycle of leader development by dropping seeds and nurturing the next generation of young leaders of character.
Look in the mirror. Is there a young leader in your workgroup that you’d like to mentor?
Please join me again in two weeks for more on Leading with Character.
If you enjoyed this post, please visit my website where you can buy my book, Breaking Ice & Breaking Glass: Leading in Uncharted Waters, and sign up for my mailing list: https://sandrastosz.com/book/breaking-ice-and-breaking-glass/
