See that tree in the photo? It’s standing alone at the top of a fell in Finnish Lapland, battered by wind, barely holding on.
Beyond it in the distance? Russia.
When I saw it, I turned to my husband and said, “That’s the lone defense against a Russian invasion.”
We laughed. But looking at that tree—wind-beaten, isolated, exposed—I couldn’t stop thinking about the leaders I work with who are trying to do the same thing.
You’re standing alone, trying to defend against everything coming at your organization.
You might be brilliant at what you do. Strategic. Capable. Experienced. But individual excellence doesn’t solve organizational challenges.
I see this pattern constantly:
- One exceptional leader tries to drive alignment alone.
- Another attempts to fix collaboration through sheer force of will.
- A third works overtime to compensate for team dysfunction.
The real issues persist because they were never individual problems to begin with.
That lone tree survives, sure. But it’s vulnerable to every storm, exposed to harsh winds, and its roots can only go so deep in isolation.
Strength requires a forest, not a lone tree.
When leaders develop together, build trust together, and align together:
- They create psychological safety that allows honest conversations.
- They leverage each other’s strengths instead of working in silos.
- They commit to collective behaviors, not just shared strategies.
- They move forward in the same direction—together.
You can’t build healthy, sustainable growth on individual heroics. You need interconnected root systems, the shared canopy of collaboration, the strength that comes from growing together.
Stop trying to be the lone defense against every challenge.
Start developing your leaders, individually and collectively as a team.
Start building the forest.
Want to learn more about me, the Bob Ross of Executive Teams? Let’s talk!
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