© The Leadership Tree

To Watch a 5 Minute video explanation of ©The Leadership Tree, please click on the video image below

©The Leadership Tree

Supporting your Leadership Journey by developing the Qualities, Skills and Insight needed for Leadership in the 2020s

The Concept & The Metaphor

The ©Leadership Tree concept was developed from my own experience as an introverted leader and through coaching reluctant, aspiring and existing leaders who were not very keen on the concept of leadership which, for some, still has preconceptions rooted in ‘The Great Man Theory’ and military depictions of ‘command and control’ leadership. Often this is because of an experience of being led which has been assimilated as ‘that’s how to do it’.


The ©Leadership Tree represents the qualities and skills I believe a leader requires in the 2020s: Clarity, Integrity, Emotional Intelligence, Passion and Knowledge. The model brings together a number of complex ideas into one metaphor to increase awareness of leadership qualities and supports leaders of all levels to identify areas for development on their leadership development journey. The model is not definitive and provides a starting point for a discussion about leadership.

Authenticity

Gary believes that the core of leadership is the ‘trunk’ of Authenticity that ‘grounds’ the leader. Whilst leaders can have the qualities identified in the 5 branches, they are unlikely to be as strong if not built on authenticity. The roots provide insight into the components of our authenticity, and whilst we all have a slightly different situational version of our authenticity (e.g. as a leader, as a parent, as a son or daughter, as a partner, as a friend etc.) for our well-being these should all be rooted in the core aspects of our authenticity. Pretending to be someone we are not is acting, and acting can be exhausting if we spend most of our days doing it. Through Gary's own leadership journey, and coaching others, it is apparent that many people are not clear what being authentic means in a leadership (or other) context, and what the roots of this are. When using this model, it has been useful to start by exploring individual values and strengths to open the door to authenticity.

Extending the tree metaphor ..


The metaphor extends to the environment the leader is in and provides a useful starting point for exploring and discussing the following: 

  • Flexibility: like trees, leaders need to be flexible in responding to the changing environment around them. Being rooted in authenticity helps to ensure they do not ‘flex’ too far.
  • Sharing Resources: leaders can share resources and support colleagues. In successful organisations, leaders are not only concerned about their leadership in the context of their direct reports and line mangers, but also how they can support their peers.
  • Developing Others: in the same way that trees support sapling growth, as a leader you can and do support the development of the next generation of leaders.
  • Shedding and Regrowth: deciduous trees shed their leaves in the autumn and have a period of recouperation; evergreen trees shed their leaves to recuperate throughout the year. As a leader you need to create space for strategic thinking and take holidays to ensure your well-being and increase your productivity when you are at work.
  • The terroir: the soil and climate the tree is in will determine its health and success. In the same way, the culture and the environment the leader operates in will be a significant factor in determining their well-being and success. 


  • Organisations: can be represented as an orchard where trees may be of different varieties, but that are organized and managed collectively, and if managed and nurtured effectively will thrive collectively.
  • The External Environment: can be thought of as a forest beyond the ‘orchard of the organisation’. Some of the forest can appear to be random, disorganised, and difficult to penetrate, whereas other areas could be coppiced (managed) and there may be other orchards (organisations) within the forest to collaborate with. Comprehending, mapping, and navigating these environments is an important leadership role to ensure engagement is managed with the external environment to identify opportunities, and just as importantly threats. For example, a leader needs to be regularly ‘scanning the horizon’ as a forest fire could start a long way from their orchard, but fires spread fast, especially with an unexpected a change in wind direction!


A Growth Model


©The Leadership Tree is not definitive; it can grow and evolve and has proven to be a great starting point for exploring people’s leadership qualities and skills gaps. ©The Leadership Tree can also bear fruit, which introduces other skills, models or techniques.


For more information about ©The Leadership Tree, or to discuss leadership coaching or bespoke leadership development programmes, please do make contact.


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