Slow and Steady Growth

Published: March 8, 2022

The most lasting change unfolds gradually, under the surface and invisible to onlookers. Unlike the shock of an abrupt transition, evolution quietly advances despite our inability to track its progress. Much like the roots of an old-growth tree, tendrils slowly reach out to connect with a powerful network of fuel and support. Above the ground, teams form.

The foundation of a team is rooted in mycorrhizal connections. What we eventually see is a consequence of cycle after cycle of investment, collaboration, experimentation, and adaptation. History matters. Every success and failure in each developmental stage of the team is delivered forward to the next stage. The team inherits both sickness and wellness.

Accrued knowledge about how to solve complex problems is shared with future generations. Scars from previous injuries and traumas are likewise displayed as reminders of the vital role of adversity in growth. Teammates come and go but the momentum flows forward, sometimes perceptibly but most of the time not.

Today’s iteration lasts only as long as it takes to notice it. The DNA of the ecosystem evolves without interruption. With each decision and every action, the community transforms either toward or away from the goal. Someone leads while others choose to follow or resist. Teammates communicate fit by engaging or disengaging. The entity shifts.

It’s tempting to pretend that things stay the same since change is uncomfortable. Adapting consumes energy and depletes the system. Every drain, however, has a corresponding replenishment. The very action that uses up energy prompts the team to reinvest. A goodbye to the old becomes a hello to the new. The world keeps turning.

There’s no need to urge anyone to embrace change. The team moves forward anyway. When you zoom in, each teammate’s contribution appears important. But when you zoom out and look at the big picture, we are humbled by the vastness of slow and steady growth and reminded of how small we really are in the grand scheme of things.

Photo of Steve Ritter, the co-founder of The Center for Team Excellence

Steve Ritter

Steve Ritter is an internationally recognized expert on team dynamics whose clients include Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, and many educational organizations. He is on the faculty of the Center for Professional Excellence at Elmhurst University where he earned the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Steve is the former Senior Vice President, Director of Human Resources at Leaders Bank, named the #1 Best Place to Work in Illinois in 2006 and winner of the American Psychological Association's Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award in 2010. Steve provides ongoing workplace culture consultation to many thriving companies including Kraft Foods, Advocate Health Care, Kellogg's, the Chicago White Sox, AthletiCo, and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.