What you can learn from palm trees about workplace culture
I’ve been thinking a lot about how we should aspire to be more like palm trees… hear me out.
Aside from being columns of pure joy… [ I mean can you REALLY be in a bad mood when you see palm trees?! 🌴 Right, me either. ]
They don’t snap in hurricanes.
Think about it, in the worst of storms, you can watch them sway so far you’d swear they were about to break. But when the wind dies down, they’re still standing.
The reason isn’t just flexibility, it’s what’s going on beneath the surface.
Palm roots spread wide, weaving through the soil and tangling with the roots of other nearby palms. Beneath the surface, they’re connected. That network is what keeps them standing in the fiercest winds.
It’s the same reason some teams make it through the storms of high growth while others don’t. They’re not just flexible on the surface, they’re grounded, connected in ways you can’t always see. They’ve built trust lines and shared language underground. (Psssst… that’s what culture is).
Something I’ve seen time and time again is that the ones who fare best all answer this next question in the same way. Plus, they don’t just answer it the same way, they all take action on the question. They DO something about it.
Here’s the question:
When a challenge (a “storm”) arises at work, who do you go to? Identify a colleague that grounds you when things get hard.
Now, ask this question around and collect some names.
Or use it to open your next meeting.
There are lots of metrics to gauge performance and technical skill. There aren’t many metrics to gauge human skills and true leadership. This is one barometer of who your people leaders are.
Take note of the names that are repeated. Tell your boss. Tell those people that they are important. Nurture those people. Recognize them. Celebrate them.
I've been hearing a LOT about leaders making attempts to start meetings with questions to get people engaged and "break the ice"... but honestly, as well intentioned as they are, most that I hear fall flat. So here's my attempt at giving you some new ideas...
Bravely,
Elisabeth
P.S. And remember, this question isn't an end point. It's a bridge. If no one says you're that person, don't get offended - this isn't personal. If you WANT to be that person, open the door. Ask what you can do more of or less of... leading is always, always, always about learning.
