March 2026

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb: Leading Through the Threshold 🌕

A Note from the Roots

March is a month that can't quite make up its mind.

One day the sun is warm enough to convince you spring has arrived. The next, you're scraping frost off your windshield and wondering why you put your winter coat away. If you live in Indiana, you know exactly what we're talking about. If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes.

But did you know, we've been saying it for centuries: In like a lion, out like a lamb? While most of us grew up thinking that was just about the weather, it turns out the saying has roots in the night sky—literally. In early March, Leo the Lion rises in the east. By month's end, Aries the Ram (the lamb) settles in the west. The stars have been telling this same story of transition for thousands of years.

And this March? The sky is especially loud. This morning, on March 3rd, between 6:00 am and 7:00 am, we experienced a rare full moon and a lunar eclipse—sometimes called a blood moon—on 3/3. Although it was tough to see through cloudy skies, the energy was shifting. Whether or not you're someone who pays attention to things like that, we'd invite you to consider it a moment worth pausing for.

Because March isn't just about weather or constellations. It's about thresholds.

For the people you lead—your teams, your staff, your colleagues—this is often one of the most depleting stretches of the year. The energy of a fresh start has faded. The finish line isn't quite in sight. People are tired in ways they can't always name. And as we know, the world is full of uncertainty.

And that's exactly when leadership matters most.

This month, we're exploring what it looks like to lead people well through seasons of uncertainty and transition. How do you hold the tension between where you've been and where you're going? How do you stay steady when everything feels a little unpredictable?

Spoiler: it starts with paying attention. To your people, to the season, and maybe—just maybe—to the sky.

With roots and a little wonder,

Amy & Sarah
Aspen Root Collective

Collective Connections | Strengths Open Enrollment

Introduction to CliftonStrengths — Open Enrollment Session

Thursday, March 12th, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm at The DeKalb Chamber Partnership

We are so excited to bring back one of our most requested offerings—and this time, we're opening it up to everyone.

Whether you're brand new to the world of CliftonStrengths or you've taken the assessment and want a deeper understanding of how to actually use it, this session is for you.

In 90 minutes, we'll cover:

➡️ What CliftonStrengths is and why it's one of the most powerful tools for personal and professional growth

➡️ How understanding your unique talents changes the way you work, lead, and communicate

➡️ Practical ways to apply a strengths-based lens in your everyday life—at work and beyond

Pricing:

$25 for participants who have already taken the CliftonStrengths assessment
$50 for participants who have not yet taken the assessment (includes access to your unique results)

This session is also a perfect opportunity for our clients who have recently added new team members and are looking for a meaningful, affordable way to get them introduced to the Strengths language your organization is already speaking. There's nothing quite like getting everyone on the same page—and this is a great place to start.

Space is limited—reserve your spot today!

Click Here to Register

March can't make up its mind-And maybe that's the point.

Did you know that ER departments and OB units actually adjust their staffing around a full moon? Turns out, the people closest to human behavior have always known: something shifts when the moon is at its fullest.

From the ancient roots of 'in like a lion, out like a lamb' to a rare blood moon on the morning of 3/3, this month is full of signals about transition.

In this month's Rooted Reflection blog post, Sarah shares a bit about what the sky has to do with leading your team through uncertain seasons. 🌕🌿

Rooted Reflections is our monthly dive into the real, messy, beautiful work of leadership. We share what we're learning, what we're unlearning, and what keeps us rooted in this work.

Click Here to Read the Full Blog Post

What We're Loving This Month!

Gallup's Called to Coach Podcast

"Six Proven Strategies to Introduce CliftonStrengths to Your Organization"

If you've ever wondered how to move Strengths from a one-time team activity to a living, breathing part of your culture—this episode is for you.

We recommend Gallup's Called to Coach podcast regularly, and this is one of those episodes we find ourselves coming back to. It tackles one of the questions we hear most from teams starting out on their Strengths journey: "We've done the assessment. Now what?"

Getting one person on your team excited about Strengths is one thing. Building an entire team around a shared language of talent? That's where the real magic—and the real work—happens. This episode breaks down six practical, proven strategies for making that shift in a way that actually sticks.

It's especially timely if you're leading a team through a season of change—which, if March is any indication, most of us are right now.

Check out the full podcast here!

Download the Guide Here

Free Resource: Is Your Team Running on Empty?

10 Signs of Disengagement—and What to Do About It

March has a way of exposing what's been simmering under the surface. Teams that seemed fine in January can hit a wall right about now—and the signs aren't always obvious until you know what you're looking for.

That's why this month's free resource is one we wish someone had handed us earlier in our careers.

Is Your Team Running on Empty? is a simple, practical one-pager designed for busy leaders who want to stay ahead of disengagement before it becomes a retention problem.

Inside you'll find:

➡️ 10 early warning signs that your team may be disengaging

➡️ Simple, actionable interventions you can start this week

➡️ The one Gallup statistic that should be on every manager's radar

Print it out. Keep it on your desk. Share it with a colleague who's been struggling with a team that just feels... off.

Because the best time to address disengagement is before someone hands you their resignation.

🌱 Results Taking Root Across Indiana

February was full. The good kind of full—the kind where you look back at the month and feel genuinely grateful for the people and organizations doing the hard, meaningful work of building better teams and stronger cultures.

From familiar faces to brand new ones, we had the privilege of showing up across the state this past month—and we couldn't be prouder of the work taking root.

Amy made her way to Indianapolis for the Indiana Association of School Principals' inaugural WE Conference—a first-of-its-kind event dedicated to women in education. Being part of that room, with those leaders, at that moment? We don't take that lightly.

Sarah joined the 3Rivers Credit Union team for their annual Realizing the Vision event, where the team got grounded in their core values and what it truly means to live them out—not just post them on a wall.

And we were so thrilled to return to one of our favorite long-time clients, the Don Wood Foundation, as they continued to build on their Strengths journey together. Watching a team deepen their understanding of themselves and each other over time is one of the greatest privileges of this work.

More to come. More roots going down. 🌱

🌕 There's More Where This Came From...

Just like March itself, we're not done yet.

All month long, we're continuing our deep dive into the Gallup Q12 engagement survey on social media—and trust us, the lion has a lot more to say before the lamb takes over.

✨ Q12 insights that help you understand what your team actually needs right now ✨ Leadership reflections for navigating this season of transition

✨ Real stories from Indiana teams doing the work—and seeing the results

Because just like the stars that have been telling this story for centuries, the signs are there if you know where to look.

Follow us on LinkedIn | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on Facebook

{3575 Braveheart Circle, Auburn IN 46706

Unsubscribe · Preferences

Aspen Root Collective

🌱Rooted in Potential | In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb: Leading Through the Threshold 🌕