Weeding the Soil

To Focus

Hello,

Many teams right now are stretched.

More demands.  

More complexity.  

More change.  

Less time to think.

The result is often predictable: unclear priorities, fragmented communication, rising tension, and leaders carrying increasing pressure to hold everything together.

Recently, during a coaching session with a senior government leader preparing for a team away day, one idea resonated deeply: the importance of weeding.

Not adding more.  

Removing what no longer serves.

The projects we have always done.  

The pet initiatives.  

The habits and meetings that consume energy without contributing clearly to the wider purpose.

In nature, healthy growth depends as much on what is removed as what is added.

The same is true for teams.

One challenge for overstretched teams is that they often cannot see what is directly in front of them. Research into expert radiologists shows that even highly experienced professionals can miss obvious details when working under habitual patterns of attention. Familiarity can narrow perception.

This is where external perspective becomes valuable.

Sometimes a fresh voice helps teams notice:

- what is draining energy

- what is no longer aligned

- what conversations are being avoided

- where clarity has been lost

This is why preparation matters so much before an away day.

The most effective sessions do not begin on the day itself. The ground is prepared beforehand:

- thoughtful questions

- honest reflection

- clearer priorities

- creating space for meaningful conversation

We encourage teams to put away phones and laptops during these sessions. Not as a rigid rule, but to create the conditions for deeper listening and clearer thinking.

Our Soil, Tree, Forest framework helps structure these conversations.

Soil:  

How is the team really feeling?  

Where is energy depleted?  

What nutrients are missing?

Tree:  

What are the team’s real goals?  

What is good for individuals, the team, and the wider system?

Forest:  

What does all this activity ultimately contribute towards?

When teams regain clarity, something shifts.

People stop simply reacting.  

They start moving together again with greater purpose, energy, and direction.

In complex environments, leadership is often less about adding more, and more about tending more carefully.

If this resonates with you and your team, contact us here, we’d love to hear from you.

Warm regards,

Mark