A Resilience Tree Leadership Fable
Enid learned early that not every space was designed for her to thrive.
In her first job, she noticed it in small ways. Her ideas were often overlooked until someone else repeated them. Meetings felt like rooms she had to navigate carefully rather than spaces she could fully enter.
No one said she didn’t belong. But nothing in the environment suggested that she did.
At first, Enid focused on adapting.
She studied how decisions were made, adjusted how she communicated, and paid attention to the unspoken expectations that shaped the workplace. She told herself that if she worked hard enough, she could find a way to grow there.
And in some ways, she did.
She earned recognition. She built credibility. She learned how to move through the system.
But the effort it required was constant.
There were days when she left work feeling like she had spent more energy navigating the environment than doing the work itself.
Over time, Enid began to ask a different question.
Not just, “How do I succeed here?”
But, “What does this environment require of me; and what is it giving back?”
She started to notice more.
Who was included in decision-making.
Whose ideas were taken seriously.
What behaviors were rewarded.
What went unacknowledged.
She also began to notice how she felt.
When she felt energized.
When she felt drained.
When she felt like she could be fully herself; and when she couldn’t.
Those observations led her to make small changes.
She sought out teams where collaboration felt more natural. She built relationships with colleagues who valued her perspective. She spoke up more, even when it felt uncomfortable.
Some things improved.
But some things didn’t.
Eventually, Enid faced a decision.
She could continue to invest her energy in navigating an environment that required constant adjustment, or she could look for one where her growth would be more naturally supported.
Leaving was not simple. She had built relationships, developed skills, and established herself.
But she also recognized that resilience did not mean staying in every space.
It meant understanding what she needed, and making decisions aligned with that awareness.
In her next role, the difference was clear.
Her ideas were engaged with, not overlooked. Collaboration felt reciprocal. Growth did not require the same level of constant negotiation.
For the first time, Enid experienced what it felt like to be in an environment that didn’t just test her resilience; but supported it.
And later, as she moved into leadership, she carried that awareness with her.
She paid attention to the environments she helped create.
Who was being heard.
Who had access to opportunities.
What expectations were shaping the culture.
Because she knew now:
An environment does not have to be perfect to support growth.
But it does have to be intentional.
And when it is, people don’t just survive within it.
They flourish.
Reflection Prompts
Assessing Your Environment
- In which spaces do you feel energized, valued, and able to be yourself?
- In which spaces do you feel like you have to constantly adjust or prove yourself?
Noticing the Patterns
- Whose voices are heard and respected in your environment?
- What behaviors or qualities seem to be rewarded or overlooked?
Personal Impact
- How does your current environment affect your energy, confidence, and growth?
- Are you spending more energy navigating the environment or contributing within it?
Agency and Choice
- What small changes could you make to better support yourself in your current environment?
- Where might it be time to consider a different environment altogether?
Leadership Reflection
- What kind of environment are you helping to create for others?
- Who might be experiencing your environment differently than you are?
Grow Your Resilience Tree
If this resonates, check out my book: Resilience Tree: A Model for Women Leaders of Color and Those Who Support Them Now Available on in paperback and audio:
Nurture your roots. Rise with purpose. Let’s grow together.
Written by Dr. Shauna T. Sobers, Creator of the Resilience Tree www.shaunatsobers.com#Resilience #Leadership #Followership #ResilienceTree #LivingTheResilienceTree #WomenLeadersOfColor #EmpoweringYou #WomenLeaders #LeadershipDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalWellbeing
Drafting assistance provided by OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The thoughts & stories are my own.