How Deep Are Your Roots?

When I was a kid there was a tree in our front yard, right next to our driveway. I used to race home from elementary school to climb that tree. I wanted to see just how high I could go. I loved to push my luck as I inched dangerously higher and higher than the day before. As a kid, it was all about how high I could climb but, as an adult, I often find myself thinking more about a tree’s roots and less about how high the branches extend.

I’ve come to realize that roots matter. They not only provide a tree with the nutrients it needs to survive but also with the stability to withstand a storm. Strong winds may come but a tree with deep roots will survive that storm.

The Redwood trees are an exception to this truth. These trees often grow to well over 300 feet and many can be found standing strong at 20 feet or more in diameter. People travel the globe just to see the Redwoods with their own eyes. These trees tower over all other trees and their height alone should make them susceptible to damage. A redwood should be an easy target in a heavy rainstorm, a tornado, or when lightning is present, but these trees are very resilient. By looking at a redwood one could easily assume that their roots go to the center of the earth to supply all the nutrients and stability that such a massive living structure would need to survive. But that isn’t the case. The Redwoods have a unique root system that typically goes just 6-12 feet deep. How is it possible that these trees rarely fall over?

The Redwoods stay standing because their shallow roots intertwine with the roots of the other redwood trees. They are literally holding each other up. The trees grow in close proximity to each other so they can share nutrients and physically support each other. Beneath the surface their roots look like one massive system. It’s as if they are saying, “we are in this together, we are one, if you want to knock one of us down, you’ll have to knock us all down.” Their roots provide strength and their strength lies in their connection with each other.

We can learn from the Redwood trees that being connected matters. Far too often leaders feel the pressure to lead as a party of one, to separate themselves from those they are trying to lead, to try and do it all alone. Leaders often feel like they are supposed to have all the answers, but sometimes the strength of a leader lies in their ability to stay close to their people and in difficult times to respond by saying, “I don’t have an answer yet, but we will figure this out together.”

When leaders and teams stay connected, they are able to share their resources and provide strength for each other. It isn’t just that the people need to be in close proximity to their leader, the leader also benefits greatly from staying connected to their people. When this happens, everyone has the potential to grow to new heights. The strongest and most resilient people are intentionally connected to others.

Science also tells us that roots matter not only to the trees but also to the soil. Roots directly impact the overall health of the ground, which impacts the other living things that are trying to grow. In the same way, the roots of a leader – the things that they value – impact their followers, and the roots of a team impact those outside the team. Your roots have the ability to influence the environment – the culture – where others are also trying to grow.

The moral of the story? Plant yourself next to good people and find ways to purposefully connect with them. When you do so you will find that you can survive the most difficult trials by relying on and providing for those around you. Everyone benefits from the healthy root system of a few. Your roots matter.

If you enjoyed this post, please use the social media icons below to share or tweet this blog so others may also benefit.