Education

What Are Your Words?

"Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning." - Maya Angelou


Picture courtesy of Endot via Compfight


If there's one thing that I quickly learned as a newbie gardener years ago, it was how important words are. Specifically, if you want to find a particular plant you had better know the exact Latin name or you could end up with the wrong plant. In the plant collector world this small error could cost you a whole lot of money! You could also end up with a plant that creeps and takes over your garden. Words are important. The right words even more so.

Plants have a common name - Lilac, and a Latin name - Syringa. Despite a year of Latin in school I try to stick with the common name because I can pronounce it! The Latin name for a plant is it's botanical name and it has two words. The first word is the "genius" which describes a plant's flowers, leaf arrangement, or growth habit. The second word is the "species". This describes a plant's particular attributes, habitat, or maybe unique characteristics. If you want to sound like a cool swag gardener - learn Latin and how to properly pronounce fancy plant words.

Not long ago I was soul searching. I identified two words that describe my focus and my personal drive in life. I use these two words to remind myself who I am and what I strive for in all areas of my life. They have become my mantra. My words are:

GRIT  & GROWTH     
                                                                                                
Why these two words? Simple. Grit means to have courage, a strong strength of character, a "sticktuitiveness", and hanging in there for the long haul despite challenges. Growth means to progress, develop, bloom, grow internally, and progress. You really can't have one without the other. They are co-dependent and work as a team.

What GRIT helps me with:

  • Courage to stay on course while facing adversity
  • Follow through, focus
  • Creativity
  • Optimism and positive attitude
  • Achieve goals and confidence
  • Seek excellence even though it may take practice and time

What GROWTH does for me:
  • Inspires my curiosity
  • Drives my passion to learn
  • Pushes me to constantly improve and become a better person
  • Measures my accomplishments
  • Never lets me be content with the status-quo
  • Keeps my propensity to get bored away
  • Defines who I am
  • Encourages me to help others find their passion and desire to grow

Photo courtesy of Hadock via Compfight


"People may hear your words but they feel your attitude" - John C Maxwell

What are YOUR words? Please share your mantra......






Does Color Really Matter?

"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts" - Marcus Aurelius

Time to diversify and design a red and orange garden?


 To me, a garden is an artist's palette. It changes over time and the scene jumps out as the artist lightly  brushes on color and texture. Gardens are a reflection of the "artist" and no two are ever alike. Gardens are meant to be free flowing and unique. Gardening isn't just about color. It's also about texture, bark, pottery, garden art, or even fences. Gardening welcomes all colors, sizes, textures, and plant temperaments. For me? The more diverse that a garden is, the better. I love diversity and it's amazing what each plant brings to the mix.

I tend to be more of a carefree and adventurous gardener with color and texture. I don't take a whole lot of time to plan out colors or even placement in my gardens. In the end, I'm rewarded with a plethora of colors that compliment each other. What's important to me is that I enjoy the beauty that I've created and if others love it? It's an added bonus. I have stepped out of the norm and have designed some monochrome gardens. I have a black garden and an all white garden that face each other as if in battle. I also have a bright cheery yellow garden that pops in the sunlight. It's fun and finding the right colored plants sent me on a greenhouse scavenger hunt.

If you want some semblance of order with color in your garden then a color wheel is your #1 tool. As you can see below, a color wheel shows how colors are related (or not) and can be a useful guide in helping you to mix up your colors. For more insight check out Proven Winners.


Photo courtesy of Sean Hillmeyer via Compfight

Here's some tips for using a color wheel:

  • Analogous colors are next to each other and look good together (red & orange, orange & yellow, yellow & green ).
  • Complementary colors are those opposite of each other on the wheel (red & green, violet & yellow).
  • A triad of colors is formed by drawing an equilateral triangle connecting 3 colors on the wheel (red, yellow, & blue).
  • Monochromatic is using 1 color in several shades. A shady hosta garden or my yellow garden are great examples.
  • Dark/deep colors such as blue, purple, dark pink can create calm when used together. They also make spaces appear larger.
  • Bright colors bring attention to areas, but may make a garden seem smaller. Bright colors are great near doors, decks, and windows. Think red, orange, fuchsia.
  • Neutral colors such as white, gray, black, silver, brown, and green tone down other colors or can be a divider between sweeps of color. 

Most garden designers swear by using a color wheel to pair plants and build new gardens. It doesn't end there. They also make use of textures and other hardscaping (rocks, arbors) features. Gardens need to well rounded with a lot of diverse color and features. Diversity builds character and it's fun to see all the elements play together.

"All the diversity, all the charm, and all the beauty of life are made up of light and shade" - Leo Tolstoy


How are you  doing with building diversity outside your garden? We can all make a difference in the world by building diversity in all areas of our lives.

Life is like a garden. My garden has more shapes, colors, sizes, smells, and textures than I can even count. They all compliment one another and they form a cohesive portrait. A single flower can't make a garden, but a group becomes a  spectacular show. Wouldn't it be great if our world were like this? Our differences are what make us unique and we should embrace all the "smells, colors, shapes" in people like we do in a garden. We all bring something to the whole.

 When I was young, I wanted to change the world. It took growing up and life experience to learn that one person can only be a catalyst, not change everything. We can  make an impact by our actions and hope that we too can be the one flower that unites a garden.

How you can help grow diversity
  • Examine your real feelings regarding diversity. Be honest and ask yourself "why" if you have reservations.
  • Speak out against racism and inequality. Don't let it slide. You can be subtle in your efforts, but if you ignore it you are accepting it. Don't be that person. 
  • If you feel that you can't speak out against some issues regarding diversity, confide in someone else. Let them be a catalyst.
  • Be open and learn about the cultures of those that you work with. Ignorance can breed an indifference to diversity.
  • Reach beyond your circle of friends and work group. Get to know those that are "different" and make some new connections. Accept differences.
  • Avoid hanging with cliques or one group.
  • Watch your words and jokes. So many of us forget the power of words - positive and negative.
  • If you are in a leadership role, encourage diversity and hire diversity. 
  • Request to work with diverse teams.
  • Encourage and attend diversity training. Some communities have some great resources if your company does not have a program.
  • Encourage speakers on diversity or attend a community talk.
  • Volunteer within a variety of communities.
  • Allow or join groups within your company. Many employers encourage groups on site where like members (and you!) can meet monthly, weekly etc.
  • Encourage people to post events from their community to encourage anyone to visit their event or group.
  • DO SOMETHING. Don't wait for someone else to start change. Be a leader.

I love gardening because I gain so much satisfaction from watching my plants grow and blend in with their neighbors to form a magical world. How are YOU going to add diversity to the garden of life???


































Is Patience Your Virtue?

"It is not necessary for all men to be great in action. The greatest and sublimest power is often simple patience" - Horace Bushnell
 


Photo Courtesy of Kew on Flickr via Compfight

One of the largest and weirdest flowers in the world is the Titan Arum (Amorphophallus Titanum) or Corpse Flower shown in the picture above. Why is it called a Corpse Flower? Because it literally smells like rotting human flesh when it blooms for a few short days. The real story behind the Corpse Flower is in the power and patience that the plant has before it blooms.

Titan Arum hails from hot and tropical Indonesia. It's the largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom ( which means the floral structure is composed of many smaller individual flowers). It's umbrella sized petals open to 3-4 feet and it produces the largest leaves in the world - up to 15-20 feet! It loves hot warm day temperatures and high night humidity. The Corpse Flower is very patient and determined. It can take 10 or more years to bloom and demands particular growing conditions. One plant in Switzerland took over 75 years to bloom!The largest plant at Kew Gardens in England weighs over 200 pounds and grows 1/4 inch an hour! It only blooms after it has stored enough energy within it's underground stem. The Corpse Flower is highest on the smell-o-meter at night when it's very humid and it begins pollinating. Pollination releases a strong potent scent that is the result of 2 sulfur producing chemicals. The smell can be detected from 1/2 mile away! The smell does have a positive.It attracts pollinators such as the Dung and Carrion Beetles (shocking huh?). http://www.usbg.gov/return-titan

Photo via Wild Sumatra at Compfight
Photo via Wild Sumatra via Compfight
Photo via wlculter via Compflight


This incredible creepy sci-fi plant draws crowds to botanical gardens all over the world when it blooms. It generates more press than a sitting President while blooming. People literally spend hours just watching the plant come into bloom and quickly grab nose protection when it does. It's so creepy that it's mesmerizing. The patience and long term focus of the Titan Arum is really admirable. Nothing can hurry it's growth, no one can influence it to bloom bigger, brighter, or faster. The Corpse Flower develops at it's own pace and inherently knows that patience pays off when it pops out in all it's blooming glory. How patient are you?

"He that can have patience, can have what he will" - Ben Franklin
 
Patience is NOT one of my virtues. It's something that I really need to work at and focus on. I get really enthusiastic about new ideas and projects and want to jump right in. I want to make things happen and bring about change. I hate waiting on other people in order to get things moving. It's hard for me to understand why some people work so slow, precise, and lethargic. Not the best traits for developing and growing my leadership skills over time right? Leadership is one area  where I have had to learn to pace myself and force myself to set long term goals on gaining more knowledge, experiences, and education.
 
 Like the Corpse Flower, leadership can't be forced. You must have patience and focus on the end goal : strong and everlasting leadership. 
 
 
If you are lucky enough to be a seasoned patient leader here is what your arch nemesis acts like:
 
  • He won't make time or have an interest in hearing other's concerns.
  • Lack of listening skills.
  • Results oriented to the determent of other teams/projects.
  • Perfectionist.
  • Little empathy or no Emotional IQ.
  • Persistent yelling or sarcasm.
  • Unreasonable goals or deadlines.
  • No tolerance for delay or failure.
  • Teams are a second thought. Get out of  the way of this leader!
  • One way communication - hers.
  • Leader feels that the marketplace demands this method of leadership.
  • No focus on the long term or the need for looking that far ahead. Just go!
Sound like anyone that you know? I bet that it does! Our fast moving world doesn't reward patience and long term thinking. Everything has to happen now, be now, and then it's on to the next thing. As a result, we are all pressured to produce now, act now, and hope that it all works out. Not conducive to personal long term growth nor the health of  individuals or companies.
 
 Leadership is a long term personal development process focused on experience, mistakes, education, and life lessons. Learn patience and practise patience.
 


 Why IS patience a virtue? How can you use it?
 
 
  1. When you take the time to see things through the eyes of other's you see the bigger picture and what other's are experiencing or noticing. Step back and focus. Take time to learn.
  2. Patience allows you to evaluate tension within a group and without bias. You avoid taking sides, can remain open minded, and be patient under pressure. This gift may take years to develop.
  3. Listen. Really listen. Ask questions in a patient voice and have an open positive attitude. This too is a hard skill.
  4. Be willing to seek a new perspective from someone else. Have your own mentor who can guide you with patience to resolve issues and strengthen your leadership.
  5. Be a role model. Don't runaway from being responsible yourself. Responsibility and patience often go hand in hand.
  6. Some things just take a long time. You need to be consistent and focused. For instance, building a strong company culture won't happen overnight. Like our flower, it happens on it's own timeline and you need to nurture it.
  7. Mastering patience and building skills over time, even decades, build your brand and reputation. Patience is the foundation of so many regarded skills. It's your foundation and base.
  8. Patience brings results. It rewards with growth, sales, service, and even personal recognition.
  9. Learning patience bring you the gift of suspending judgement or making decisions long enough to consider the best avenues to take. This is critical when your decisions have an impact on the lives of others. Be patient. Be focused. Be responsible.
  10. Patience helps build strong character in both yourself and others. You learn the ability to step back and look at every aspect of a situation with calm and reason. This enables you to truly make clear, fair, and just decisions. Patience brings a sense of peace.
Patience really is a vital virtue for everyone to develop.Think what would happen if we had a world full of patient parents, teachers, politicians, coaches, CEO's, leaders at every level. We are all leaders in what we do in our own lives. Some of us are more patient then others in learning patience in the game of life. Some of us need to remember that patience takes time to develop in others over time.

Like the Corpse Flower, patience can't be rushed. We all bloom when it's our time. Make the time to learn patience and put it to use. Bloom when YOU  are ready, not when others want you too!



Photo via The Rocketeer via Compfight
 
 


Are You in the Leadership Zone?

"Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new" - Brian Tracy

Photo courtesy of USDA
 
Are you in the right zone or do you feel completely "zoned" out? When you are in your genuine zone you tend to feel more energetic and dynamic in both your work and personal life. Things are getting done. You are moving forward at a comfortable and confident pace. Time seems to slow or disappear as you get lost in whatever you are doing. It feels right and you love the feeling. Being in your zone brings you harmony and allows you to focus and grow. Think back to a time when you were "in your zone". Remember how you felt and what about that time made you lose time and love what you were doing. How did it feel? It's a great place to be! Do you get to jump into your zone a lot or is it a distant dream?
 
You can guess one of  my favorite "zone" times. Yup. It's when I am in my garden puttering around creating and bringing plants to life. It's the warm sun and the birds tweeting about. It's the satisfaction of seeing the growth of my work. I literally get "zoned" out for hours. Time passes without me noticing while my concentration and passion are focused like a sharp spade. I get some of my most creative ideas in this zone!
 
Again, I have found that life is similar to a garden. It's important that whatever your daytime gig or your  level of leadership, YOU find the right zone to grow in. Plants will only thrive if they have agreeable growing conditions. You won't grow tulips in Florida nor will you be growing any oranges in Wisconsin. The right plant needs the right place. The right leader needs the right zone to thrive. The two have an  uncanny need for the same things or they will both wither and even die.
 
Anybody can garden and be successful. Really! The key is having enough knowledge to be dangerous and plenty of spunk to give things a try. The biggest problem newbie gardeners make is not researching (or simply reading the plant tag!) what conditions a particular plant needs and following through when planting. The second error is watering too much or not enough. Last, don't place a sun loving cactus in the shade. It just doesn't work. Many of you have safely raised children or dogs, you CAN raise a garden. I've heard every excuse out there and I'm not buying in...
 
The first key to gardening with finesse is learning what planting zone that you live in. The USDA revised their plant hardiness map in 2012 to help gardeners and growers figure out which plants will thrive in their location (see above). The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature in your area and is divided into 10 degree F (Fahrenheit) zones. There are also heat zone maps for the warmer areas of the country because some plants can't survive in extreme heat.  Look at the map USDA Plant Hardiness Map to determine your planting zone. I live in Western Michigan and I am in Zone 6. Plant tags will either indicate which zones the plant will thrive in or the lowest average temperature that it will survive in. You absolutely need to know your planting zone or you will waste a lot of money and not ever realize why you are a crummy gardener!
 
Just to confuse you a bit. There are some caveats to your planting zone. You can actually "gain" a zone and grow plants that are out of your zone with success. For instance, I have Musa Basjoo Banana trees that grow from nothing to 12 feet tall every year. They don't realize that they probably shouldn't do that. I have overwintered Windmill Palms that didn't get the message either and they grew. How? Simple. Plants can move up a zone under the following conditions - so experiment!
  • Micro climates will allow some plants to grow. My banana trees are growing in between my sun porch and mudroom with the dryer vent nearby. They are protected in the winter and grow huge!
  • Snow. We snowbirds can actually grow plants that some Southerners can't. Snow is an insulator and protects plants.
  • Mulch or straw. Both insulate and protect against freeze and thaw cycles.
  • Wind, sun, days of frost will influence how and where a plant thrives.
  • Soil moisture and humidity.
What do planting zones have to do with you? Simple. If you aren't in the right "zone" - your zone, you won't thrive. How can you tell if you aren't in your zone?
 
  • You're not motivated and don't thrive
  • You feel frustrated and leggy
  • Your job has become a chore
  • You resist moving forward
  • Your "vision" is blurred
  • You are stressed and show it like a thirsty plant
  • People aren't buying into your ideas
  • You feel alone in your zone (remember our tulip in the wrong place?)
  • You are distracted by too many minor issues
  • How about dealing with office politics, busy work, solving other's problems, and you plain feel over your head!
What does all this have to do with your "Leadership Zone"?
 
Simple. If you fell out of your zone or haven't yet discovered it -  don't fret. You can drop back into the right zone. To be an effective leader and have personal happiness through growth, you need to find your sweet spot and remember (or learn) what it's like to be there.
 
First, you need to learn your zone boundaries (remember - you can't thrive in the wrong zone!).  Bill Zipp discusses 3 leadership zones that will help you to stay in the right zone and perform in his blog  3 Comfort Zones of Leadership.  Here are the Three Zones:
 
  1. Comfort Zone: This zone is real safe and comfy. You like it but know that you really can't stay here forever. While it might be nice to stay, you have the urge to move on and need more. You just aren't in your zone anymore. Your leadership style has developed and you can't stay in the greenhouse anymore being protected from the real elements!
  2. Stretch Zone: This is the zone that Bill refers to as "bold vision and big goals". Things are a little more uncertain and there is more perceived risk in this zone. This is the zone where you belong. You have dreams, vision, and trepidation. You feel challenged and are loving it. You thrive here!
  3. Danger Zone: You don't want to be in this zone! You are going to wilt like a plant! This zone brings stress, lack of productivity, worry, and burnout. It can happen fast! Zipp says that this is a zone of physical exhaustion, emotional depletion, and brings relational issues. Get out quick! Move back to your stretch zone!
So, how do you  find your zone? Here's some suggestions:

  • You need to get back to what impassioned you to your leadership role in the first place. Was it making a difference? Serving people? Creating new innovation and working with teams? Dig down and find it!
  • Play to your strengths. As you move up you have to take on more. I bet you are doing things you shouldn't be and aren't even good at! Give those projects/jobs to someone else who has the right gifts. You need to be able to use yours.
  • Prioritize tasks or have someone do it for you. Take advantage of technology to free up your mind to focus and guide you to do the right things.
  • You need the right environment to lead in just as plants need the right growing conditions. Write down what YOU need and make changes. It could be mixing up teams, reassigning projects etc. People follow you and depend on your strengths.
  • Find a mentor to help you get back to your sweet spot. Sometimes you need someone else to help you clarify  where you are and where you need to be.
  • Revisit why you wanted to influence and lead in the first place. Make those reasons your personal mission statement.
  • Reach out and ask your people what they need from you. Lead with a servant attitude to help them be successful and bring you back into the Stretch Zone.
  • Don't micromanage. You quickly fall into the Danger Zone when you take on too much or try to control everything. That's not leadership and you will just burnout.
  • When you get back to your passion and focus, strive for excellence in the key areas ONLY that will leave you with that "in the zone" feeling. Leave the other distractions out at all costs.
  • Be persistent and resilient in your role. Revisit expectations, goals, the end result regularly with yourself and your team. Keep your team zoned in on what you need them to do as a group.
  • Always be ready for resistance and the pull out of  the other zones. Don't let yourself lapse and tease yourself into thinking another zone isn't all that bad.
In short? You are like a plant. You need to be in the right spot and in your zone to thrive. Don't lose your focus and resist falling out of zone. What have you done to be in your perfect zone?

This Banana plant may not realize it's not supposed to grow here!





 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Leaders "Shed" Too!


"To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug" - Helen Keller


 
A pine needle rug of fall gold
To shed is to grow !
In most areas of the country, Fall is truly a spectacular rainbow of color. The smells are even better! Apples, pumpkins, pine, and fires scent the air. Where I live it's common for people to jump onto wagon rides for corn maze challenges and apple picking. Adults love to go up North for wine tasting in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

It seems like our leaves fly off the trees about this time in October. Often the pine and spruce trees shed as well. Pools of gold needles fall at the feet of large conifers. New gardeners or homeowners sometimes panic when they see browning conifers and what seems like a large thick pile of needles dropping. Don't panic! It's all about shedding the old and moving on to new growth!

Generally it's the inner needles of conifers that turn brown or gold and drop. Pine trees tend to drop needles every 2-5 years and Spruce trees every 5-7 years. There is dropping every year because the tree is in a constant flux of shedding and growing new needles. New needle growth starts in the Spring after a long winter nap. Trees will drop more needles due to environmental stress. If there is drought (even from the previous year!), root damage (don't pile dirt or stuff on the roots), insect or disease - then the needle drop is on. Be aware that there are some conifers that do drop all of their needles every year just like regular trees. They then sprout bright green growth in the spring. Conifers with this behavior include the Larches, Dawn Redwoods, and Bald Cypress. The great news is that  fallen needles are a free mulch for your yard! Rake them up and put over your garden beds for winter protection. An added bonus is that they break down and feed your soil.

The dropping of leaves and needles on trees and plants prepares them for winter. When Spring arrives they can pop with healthy growth. The growth cycle maintains the ecosystem and the survival of plants and trees. Most of us have seen the damage to trees when they haven't yet lost their leaves when an unexpected snow storm hits. Branches break from the weight of the cold stuff and trees can suffer permanent damage.

 People need to prepare for change and growth as well. Healthy growth is vital to our existence, happiness, and future. Any aspiring leader should yearn to grow and have a commitment to doing so. Growing should be like breathing or eating. Sound leaders make a dedicated choice to grow. You can't use your talents if you don't "prepare" yourself for growth and shed your old "self" to grow into the new.

 
So... How DO you shed your old self and grow?
Here's some ideas!
 
  • Shed any old perceptions that you have. Open yourself up to the suggestions and views of others. Be open to criticism and be willing to  change.
  • Shed negativity and pessimism. Treat every day like a  new day.
  • Like our gardens, take advantage of down times (winters) to rev up and grow.
  • Believe in yourself and what you are capable of. Be yourself!
  • Act positive towards others. Let that positivity grow from within and drive you to guide others.
  • Develop a personal development plan for yourself. Carry plans down through to your people to help them grow. Make plans personal and not a condition of a promotion. Everyone needs to have a plan and believe in it.
  • Be proactive. Make things happen for yourself through admiring and growing the talents of others.
  • Learn learn learn! Splurge on learning for your people. Even if you are leading a book club find ways to help others learn through new processes and sharing thoughts.
  • Develop relationships with people at all levels and walks of life. The world is diverse - take advantage of it for your own growth. Don't judge.
  • Don't have an ego and avoid depending on others. Going solo won't work in the long run and you will miss the opportunity to make a difference.
  • Be disciplined. Start with small steps and expand. Doing tiny habits every day will build into something more.
  • Drop your fears and face the unknown. You need to jump into the fire to grow.
  • Roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty in life. I can teach myself gardening all day but the real growth comes from just doing it and experiencing through trial and error.
  • Be willing to sacrifice for others. Serve others in order to make an impact. Be humble and let others know that you are on the path to learn and grow.

You can't control your world anymore than garden plants can control the weather. Embrace your own growth and breathe in new ideas, thoughts, and diversity. Like the trees, you need to prepare yourself to grow and change so you can help others down the same path.

Happy raking!











Leadership lessons from my garden


My favorite spot - my pond

"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust". Gertrude Jekyll



Usually when I explain to people that I blog about leadership and gardening, they either nod and mumble something pleasant (they think I'm nuts) or they get it right away (they must love growing something, even if it's their lawn).

I have always loved gardening. I think that it's a genetic hobby in my family. I have cousins growing hops, sisters with veggie gardens, and my son is starting to get into it as well. I remember when I was 10, I planted a small plot of pumpkins and beans right in the middle of our backyard. The pumpkins took over. They grew everywhere. To this day, I remember my Dad mowing around them all summer - grumbling as he went. He hasn't let me forget it either!

Although I am an Advanced Master Gardener (which means numerous hours of classroom instruction and over 90 hours of volunteer work that I completed) most of my knowledge comes from hands on experience and learning a lot from my mistakes. By the way, for you garden aficionados, it's true ... DON'T plant running bamboo! Even the small stuff has a mind of it's own and doesn't really care how many times it's sprayed with Roundup. Don't plant Popular trees either. They love an early death and get very tall so it's a chore to cut them down. Being a reading fanatic has taught me a lot about gardening over the years as well.

Trial and error, digging right in, educating myself, and a relentless passion over the years has been my key to becoming a gardening pro. It's also how I have been developing my personal leadership skills. Great leadership doesn't happen overnight. Don't let anyone kid you. Great leaders have learned and failed along a long path to where they are today. They have experienced failure, a lack of self confidence, pressure, and a lot of self examination. They make leadership  look easy. What you haven't seen is what they have persevered through. Keep on the path that you are meandering on and you will grow into being a genuine leader as well. Be patient and willing to dig in and make mistakes. Push the envelope. Learn from others. Develop your own style with humility and a passion for others.

Over the years my gardening mistakes, triumphs, new found knowledge, and passion have taught me leadership lessons as well. They are subtle, but there. You just need to look at the world with a renewed and open mindset. You will connect similarities from your experiences to leadership as well!

What I've learned about leadership from gardening over the years:

 
  • Don't be afraid to experiment and try something new. You will grow as a result. I learned a lot from growing and overwintering some small palm trees outside here in Michigan. It was work, but I succeeded!
  • Believe in yourself - not what other's believe. Go with your gut and intuition when making a decision.
  • You CAN become a subject expert and incorporate it into your leadership. You don't necessarily need a fancy degree, step by step directions, or "relevant" experience. Hands on experience along with some book/practical knowledge goes a long way. People ask me gardening questions all the time. Amazingly, I usually have the answers.
  • Don't be afraid to go against the crowd or challenge the norms in your work when you have strong beliefs. How else will you learn and make a difference? Grow? I always push the envelop in my garden. I plant things that "shouldn't" grow in Michigan. I succeed when I do my research and challenge planting zones.
  • Build a sound foundation for growth and success. A great garden starts with healthy soil laden with worms that do their work and minerals that feed the roots. Leadership requires roots grounded in solid values and morals before growth can begin.
  • A good foundation (or soil) isn't enough. It needs to be fed and nourished. Strong leaders build strong cultures that allow people to grow and work as teams. Great gardens are fed with organic fertilizers and cultivation.
  • Great gardens need periodic maintenance like weeding, dead heading plants, and  watering. You need to do the same with your people. Treat them as individuals. Learn what drives them. Discover how to use their gifts so they can grow. Attend to them.
  • Select and plant the right plant in the right place. Shade plants wither and die in the sun. Don't place people in jobs where they lack the skills or where their strengths just aren't there. They too will wither. Play to their strengths.
  • Animals, diseases, and weather  will attack your garden. You will never be able to control what eats in the night or ravages leaves in the dew. Accept it and intervene only where and when  you can manage. The same goes for your business. Roll with what happens and know that things happen that are beyond your control. It's not personal. Deal with what you've been dealt and try to manage around the damage to help your people succeed.
  • Be patient. Don't expect change overnight. Give people a chance to accept and adjust to change. Help guide them and lay stable foundations so that they can succeed. Strong trees take decades to grow. People grow at their own pace as well. Weak trees grow rapidly and die suddenly and early.
  • Read plant tags and space plants accordingly. Give them room to grow. Don't plant large trees next to your house. You will only be pulling them out in a few years. Likewise, give people and projects space to develop and grow. Things will fall into place if you plan ahead and nurture the process.
  • Look at the big picture and notice how everything works together. Look at your garden with new eyes. Better yet, ask a friend. Is there a plant that doesn't belong or has taken over? Make adjustments. Be flexible and open. The same goes for your teams.
  • Learn from others. I love visiting other gardens. I enjoy asking questions and learning how I can be more creative or improve my gardens. I'm open and enjoy sharing my knowledge as well. Gardeners have so much passion in their craft. True leaders are the same. They learn, adapt, and share knowledge. Their passion shines.

When it comes to gardening and leadership I could babble on. I bet that you could do the same with your favorite hobbies! There are so many lessons and experiences that we have when we do what we love. Sit back for a moment and consider what you have learned from your outside interests and how it relates to your leadership. You may be amazed at the similarities. I would love to hear what you discover!





 
 
 



Fall into some learning!

Arum bulb blooming in the Spring

"When planning for a year, plant corn. When planning for a decade, plant trees. When planning for life, train and educate people" - Chinese Proverb


The one thing that I enjoy most about fall is - back to school!! By early September, my boys are so bored and tired of each other that the only time they use their creativity is in finding unique ways to annoy and torture each other - without getting caught! They dread returning to the classroom and don't quite buy the idea that learning is fun and crucial to their future. 

Fall brings cooler weather and my grass actually turns green again as the trees slowly begin their color dance! It's nice to have bonfires in the chilled air and fewer bugs to fight with. In the garden, plants and trees start to wind down for the winter (sigh) and it's seems like the garden is dying back. In reality, your garden is actually doing the opposite - you just can't see it.

Fall is the best time to plant new plants and trees.  It's also a prime time to move plants that have outgrown their space or would flourish in a better spot in the yard. They have a chance to get established before the ground freezes. The plants may die back on the top and trees may loose their leaves however, a lot of growth is occurring under the ground. Roots will expand and strengthen until the ground is completely frozen which in many areas is in late December. Even better is the fact that you can get great steals on plants and expensive trees because nurseries are eager to deplete their stock before the winter. Even if plants look yellowed and worn in the nursery, their roots are healthy and ready to grow (with the exception of evergreens. If they are yellow - they are dying). Some of my best plant bargains have been in the fall. Just plant your deals and keep them watered until the ground freezes. Fall is less stressful on new plantings because they usually tend to receive a lot more rainfall, aren't stressed by the hot blazing sun, and pests have died back. By late Spring next year, your new plants will be well established and ready to spring forward with lush growth.

After a relaxing summer it's time for us all to jump right back into a routine and fall into some learning! We too need to strengthen our roots and grow our minds. Learning doesn't stop when we walk over the stage to get that diploma. If you are dedicated to personal growth and advancing or changing your career, you need to become a life long learner. You can't keep preaching training and education to your teams if you aren't jumping right in there as well. Effective managers are continuously learning and dedicated to developing new skills. There are so many new choices and vehicles in which to learn new things - many without ever leaving your house or changing out of your Pj's!

Unless you have been living under a rock, you've probably noticed that there are sweeping changes happening in the education system within the US. More schools have issued students a lap top for electronic learning. Students are participating in video learning and conferences, teachers have taken on the concept of "flipped" learning, schools are finally realizing that kids aren't benefiting from sitting in a chair all day spitting back information. Learning is interactive and  students are working more in groups to problem solve and collaborate. Several of these new learning concepts are spilling over into the business sector. Companies are making more use of in house self learning computer modeled classes. These classes are more interactive and demand more participation. The Internet has opened up a whole new way of sharing and learning new information. Take advantage of technology and learn!

I love learning! I am a readaholic and I love sapping up new information. I can't fall asleep at night  unless I read beforehand. I'm stupefied when I hear people say that they haven't read a book in a year (sorry if you are a guilty one!). If I become a Web Designer (never going to happen, trust me!) , I want to be the best one out there. I  would read every web designing book on Amazon. Self learning takes patience and drive - you have to be proactive because no one will do it for you.

This past year I was introduced to MOOCS and it has been a great learning resource for me. A MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course. They are courses offered by top colleges including  Stanford, Georgetown, University of Michigan, and University of Washington to name a few. Classes are taught by distinguished university professors and offer readings, lectures, video, tests, user forums etc. The variety of classes available is phenomenal! You can learn anything from coding to anthropology to exploring quantum physics. The best part is that most of these classes are FREE!! They run anywhere from 4-16 weeks and the choices are endless.

Here are some of my favorite MOOCS that I have personally tried and love!


These programs offer an awesome and credible array of classes. Some of them offer certification certificates that many employers will accept for learning requirements. They give you a chance to dip your toes into learning something new without spending a dime. They may lead to a promotion or a new career path. All you need is a thirst for learning and dedication to achieve.

Here are some benefits of MOOCS:

  • You can become more marketable because you have developed new or advanced skills.
  • Proactively developing yourself may lead to a promotion within your current career.
  • Classes can assist you in making a complete career change vastly different from the field that you are in.
  • More money and flexibility.
  • More education = more leadership opportunities.
  • Small business owners with few financial resources can use these classes as training tools for their people.
  • You can even craft your own "program" by mixing and matching classes.
  • Improve or develop tech skills. One of the sites above offers coding for kids - I may sign up!
  • You can learn at your own pace without pressure. You use the learning style that best suits YOU.
  • Classes allow you to explore areas that you have never heard of before.
  • Develop better problem solving and creativity skills.
  • Satisfy outside "passions" that you have always had.
  • Exposure to thought provoking ideas, new thoughts, new connections.
MOOCS are one of the best opportunities that have emerged in some time for adult learning. They open a whole new world up for all of us and the benefits are enormous. As your garden dies down to prepare for the winter, don't let your brain die as well. Use the quiet of winter to open your mind to new learning and watch the growth that happens within you!

If you have taken some great online classes please share any of your favorites!
Happy learning!

Going to bed for the Winter