The Tree
Building Roots and Branching Out
Tree graphics + videos brought to you @ahdesgnshop
The tree represents the way we all learn, grow, and thrive. It represents how we cultivate the best version of ourselves and how we cultivate strong, healthy, and effective relationships.
Explore below to learn more about the tree metaphor for building + sustaining healthy relationships with others (and with ourselves).
The Branches
Curiosity + compassion help us branch out
The Branches
The branches represent how all humans have a basic need to explore—to branch out. We are hard wired to play, learn, and grow. When we have healthy branches, we are better able to be:
· Open to learning
· Curious
· Resilient
· Empathic
· Brave
· Empowered
· Team-oriented
· Cooperative
· Creative
· Open to trying new things
Just as a tree needs strong roots before it can grow long and healthy branches, humans need a strong and healthy root system. The roots represent how all of us have a basic need for connection—to build roots. We are hard wired to be relationship. When we have healthy roots, we are better able to be:
· Calm
· Insightful
· Patient
· Healthy
· Compassionate, towards others and ourselves
· Trusting
· Discerning of healthy relationships
· Forgiving, of others and ourselves
The Tree framework can help us be these qualities and help us empower others to have these qualities.
The way that we do this is by being curious about where others are on the tree and being intentional to meet them where they’re at on the tree.
The Roots
Most of us rely on our staff, supervisees, etc to be in the branches to keep our systems running efficiently and effectively. It’s important to notice and meet the needs when folks are branching out. However, more often than not, if we’re experiencing challenges as leaders—low morale, low productivity, low motivation, etc—it’s because folks are in the roots.
When folks are in the roots, but we need or expect them to be in the branches this causes a rupture. When there is rupture, we can’t be effective leaders. Ruptures put folks in the roots. There’s a whole section below to help you identify, repair, and prevent ruptures. But for now, it’s important to know that if you find yourself feeling stuck, frustrated, or ineffective in your relationships, it’s probably because there is a rupture that hasn’t been repaired and folks are in the roots.
How to know when someone is in the roots:
Others show us they are in the roots when they are:
· Unable to learn
· Close-minded / inflexible
· Quick to give up
· Self-focused
· Fearful
· Hopeless
· Insecure
· Defensive
· Shut-down
· Pessimistic
· Dysregulated
