The seedlings I planted three years ago began their life in a makeshift nursery as a temporary home until they grew strong enough to be transplanted to the piece of land that will feed them into the next century or two. As they become toddlers and teens, I get to think about – and possible revise – their location, their role, and their optimal teammates.
Some seedlings may celebrate and others may protest the choices I make on their behalf. Occasional relocations are necessary when the venue, role, or teammates aren’t the right fit. The youngsters who initially seem to want company turn out to prefer solitude. Those who once required some shade end up clamoring for sunlight. Not all endings are planned, after all.
Once this group’s cohort is established, some other tree-planter of the future will become the judge of their predecessor’s succession wisdom. Leadership transitions experience similar dynamics as the teams below them. A proactive assessment of location, role, and optimal teammates identifies the next steward of the growing forest.
Needless to say, whether within a newly established tree grove or within a workplace team, everyone’s roots are connected. Both the wellness and the pathology of the group rise and fall together. There are seasons of flourishing and seasons of struggle. Cycle after cycle, teammates share fuel for health and resources for recovery.
Whether assembling a grove of trees or a team of people – optimizing where they’re planted, identifying the roles they serve, and carefully selecting companions are the necessary first orders of business. Next comes the even more rewarding part – devoted stewardship to the coming succession of losses, endings, and transitions while you are lucky enough to still have the power to choose.
