The rings of a freshly hewn tree reveal every stage of prosperity and adversity in that tree’s lifespan. Narrow bands represent drought seasons while wider bands celebrate abundance. Year after year, stage after stage, the living entity either coped with an environmental challenge or harnessed its good fortune. Either way, the living thing navigated the season in concert with many other living things.
There is way more happening in the below-ground root systems than in the more visible crown above. Neighbors share both nutrients and defense against pests and disease. Forests thrive and survive as communities. The same dynamics that allow teams to thrive – sacrifice, collaboration, and interdependence – guide the wellness of all things in the ecosystem.
Take a retrospective look at your team. What cyclical themes and patterns led to today’s circumstances? How did you manage the droughts? How did you share the abundance? Who contributed nutrients? Who fought off the pests?
Your rings tell the story.
