If you have a garden, yours, like mine, is probably looking more than sorry for itself after several weeks of heat. Faithful watering (watering can only) is keeping its fatigue at bay, hopefully.
Pondering the garden has got me thinking that leadership is much akin to gardening, not least because it requires us to consciously step out of the ‘always on’, results, results, results stream and consider the health, potential and growth of our patch.
My conclusion? It is always the right time and right thing to check our gardening skills…
In what ways are we putting our people in the best position to flourish. Are we helping them in their growth (feeding and watering) through our coaching, useful and considered feedback.
When things get too intense are we providing the right kind of shade? That might be cover when mistakes have arisen. Or, adjusting priorities and workloads when the pressure’s high and people start to flag.
Are we ‘planting’ for harmony and diversity – creating the conditions for many different talents and perspectives to be expressed in powerful collaboration. Quality relationships and the trust that ensues underpin effective collaboration. That’s not a one season thing, instead requiring perennial focus.
And we need to get really good at weeding, with discernment.
Cynicism is a pernicious ‘weed’ that arises casually when a leader’s or organisation’s words and actions don’t match and expectations are unmet. It is as corrosive as battery acid to team morale, hope, faith and endeavour. If left untreated we see the ‘what’s the point weed’ flourishing.
Yet we must also recognise that not all weeds are bad. As Ralph Waldo Emerson put it… ‘What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.’
If we apply this to those who are disengaged and/or performing below expectation, then our biggest task, and biggest opportunity, is coaxing these virtues to the fore. Imagine how that would add to the garden.
So, how is your garden growing?