Growing Leaders, Growing Roots

If you’re leading today, you should also be preparing the ground for tomorrow.

Developing people isn’t a side project or something to save for later. It’s core to leadership.

When leaders don’t invest in their teams, they shouldn’t be surprised when growth stalls, or when talent looks for richer soil elsewhere.

Think of leadership like tending a tree. You may see the branches stretching upward and the leaves catching the light, but none of it thrives without strong roots.

Training, coaching, and development are the roots. They aren’t flashy. They’re not the part that everyone notices first. But they hold everything steady and make growth possible.

Why Deep Roots Matter

When leaders invest in people, three things happen:

• Stronger Performance: Associates who are trained and developed have the tools and confidence to do their jobs well. Think about a new manager learning how to delegate effectively—it doesn’t just help that manager, it also frees the team to grow and take on more.

• Engagement and Retention: People stay where they feel valued. Employees who know their leaders are committed to their growth are more motivated, more loyal, and less likely to look for opportunities elsewhere. For example, a frontline employee who is offered stretch assignments or mentoring is far more likely to envision a long-term career path.

• Cost Effectiveness: Developing the talent you already have often costs less than recruiting, onboarding, and training new hires. Hiring new talent has its place, but investing in current employees reduces turnover and protects the organization’s investment.

Roots are invisible, but their impact is undeniable. Shallow roots mean the first storm can topple the tree. Deep roots mean stability, even when conditions change.

How to Deepen the Roots

This doesn’t always require big budgets or complex programs. Small, intentional actions can have outsized impact:

• Invite an employee to shadow you in a meeting so they see not just what you decide but how you decide.

• Offer coaching conversations that focus on future growth, not just today’s performance metrics.

• Pair employees with peers from other departments to learn new perspectives and broaden their skills.

• Regularly ask team members what they want to learn next—and then look for ways to provide those opportunities.

Reflection Challenge for Leaders

This week, pick one person on your team and do something to strengthen their roots:

• Teach them a process only you know.

• Share the “why” behind a decision.

• Ask about their future goals and listen without agenda.

These small moments compound over time. Each one deepens the roots that allow your people—and your organization—to grow strong and steady.

Leadership isn’t just about the branches we see today. It’s about the unseen work that sustains tomorrow. Grow the roots, and you’ll grow the future.