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Shake the Orange Tree: Innovation & Growth

Writer's picture: Living with SHAPELiving with SHAPE

Have you ever heard about shaking an indoor orange tree? It’s an essential step if you want that tree to bear fruit. Without a little disruption, the pollen stays stagnant, and the tree won’t produce the oranges it’s capable of growing. This simple act is a powerful metaphor for the relationship between innovation, leadership, and growth.

Innovation is the shake, leadership is the hand that guides it, and growth is the fruit that follows.


Let’s explore how these elements work together to create meaningful change.


Growth Begins With Disruption

An indoor orange tree can’t rely on the wind or bees to pollinate its blossoms. It needs someone to intervene and shake its branches. Similarly, in organizations or teams, growth doesn’t just happen on its own—it needs intentional disruption. Innovation is about shaking things up, challenging the status quo, and creating movement where there’s been stagnation.


But disruption without direction can feel chaotic, even overwhelming. That’s where leadership comes in. A good leader doesn’t just shake the tree for the sake of it—they do so with purpose, timing, and care. They understand that the goal isn’t simply to change things but to create the right conditions for growth.


The Role of Leadership in Growth

Leaders are the ones who see the potential in their teams and organizations. They know that growth requires stepping outside of comfort zones, but they also understand that not everyone is ready to take that step on their own.


A great leader acts as a guide, gently encouraging their team to explore new ideas, take on challenges, and embrace the discomfort of change. They cultivate trust and provide support, ensuring the shake feels constructive, not chaotic. They balance the tension between stability and innovation, knowing when to nudge and when to pause.


Innovation Fuels the Process

Innovation is the catalyst for transformation. Whether it’s implementing a new system, adopting evidence-based practices, or reimagining workflows, innovation introduces fresh ideas and possibilities. It’s the movement that breaks through old patterns and opens up space for something new to emerge.


In our work at Living with Shape, we’ve seen how innovation transforms behavioral health organizations. For example, integrating measurement-based care into existing systems can feel disruptive at first. But when paired with strong leadership, that disruption leads to improved outcomes, streamlined processes, and more engaged teams. It’s not just about the shake—it’s about the growth that follows.


Creating the Right Environment

Just like an orange tree needs fertile soil to thrive, innovation and leadership require the right environment to succeed. Leaders create that environment by fostering a culture of trust, respect, and psychological safety. They encourage curiosity, celebrate learning, and model vulnerability, showing their teams that it’s okay to take risks and fail forward.

When teams feel supported, they’re more willing to embrace change. They understand that the shake is not a threat but an opportunity to grow.


Harvesting the Fruit

When the tree finally bears fruit, it’s a testament to the care and intention behind every shake. The same is true for organizations and teams. Growth isn’t just about achieving outcomes—it’s about celebrating the journey, the courage it took to step into the unknown, and the lessons learned along the way.


Leaders who embrace innovation as a tool for growth leave a lasting legacy. They don’t just disrupt for the sake of change; they inspire their teams to reach new heights, unlocking potential they didn’t even know they had.


The Sweetness of Growth

Innovation and leadership are two sides of the same coin. Together, they create the movement and guidance necessary for growth to happen. So, the next time you’re facing a challenge or an opportunity for change, think of the orange tree. Remember that growth doesn’t happen in stillness—it happens when we shake things up, with purpose and care.


Because when innovation meets good leadership, the results are always sweet.

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What Organizations Are Saying

"It is a true privilege working with Priya. She is an excellent thought partner that has helped to strategically elevate and innovate the way in which we can provide impactful behavioral health engagement platforms for families in need. Her expertise and clinical rigor ensured that we were able to build the partnerships we require to be successful and secure state funding to move our invaluable work forward. Her bold vision paired with her ability to set ambitious targets and meet them are sure to make our work succeed."

-COO of RPrime and Snr Manager at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

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