Conditions to Thrive

A three-part series. Part 1.

All life needs the right conditions to thrive in this world. These conditions include access to clean water, a home that keeps them safe, the ability to find and eat food or be nourished for growth, and a community that supports them.

When thinking about leadership and planning, this is a base to keep in mind. Will your business thrive without meeting these basic needs for you and your team?

Here's an example from nature of why this is so important. I have a garden out back with two rhubarb plants in it. About five years ago, I transplanted them from my mother-in-law's garden into raised beds with new rich soil and lots of space to grow in full sun and with irrigation.?

For years, they have been prolific monsters, with huge leaves over 12 inches and one-inch stalks. They last from spring to summer. We made pies, compote, crips, simple syrup, froze fruit, and shared with friends and family. Last year, I decided not to grow veggies in my other beds, so I turned off the irrigation, didn’t supplement the soil or plant other veggies in this one bed. And. I only sporadically watered these lonely plants.

The plants did okay last year; they survived. This spring, though, as they returned from their winter slumber, I noticed that one of them, in particular, was not the same. The stalks were limp, and the leaves were small. This plant was definitely not thriving.?

So, was it my neglect from the past year, the lack of fresh soil and compost, the inconsistent water, and the lack of companion plants in the bed? Did I weaken the plant? Had the soil not gotten what it needed to nourish it? Did my neglect build up and have that effect?

Now, what do I do? Remove the plant, work on the soil, give it another year, or move it to a new location? I certainly can’t just let it be in its unhealthy condition.

In my coaching practice and from my years as a manager and leader, I have experienced, and heard about, situations where the conditions to thrive are not being met.?

• A small tour operator founder who wasn’t paying herself enough to contribute to her household needs.
• A leader so stressed and overwhelmed they stopped meeting with team members shutting off communication

• An employee working two jobs to supplement income?
• A solo entrepreneur who didn’t have a community and was feeling quite alone and out of touch.
• An employee who is silenced due to fear and concern for retaliation from a manager.

In these situations, people’s work is depleting them. There is no nourishment, they are not in a position and condition to thrive. Like my rhubarb, they are withering.

Looking at positive examples, healthy workplaces create situations where people are poised to thrive. It is like my garden bed when it is freshly composted, wedded, and irrigated and is ready for seeds or starts.?

Great examples include:

• Good pay for a team member with hours that work for their particular life needs
• Healthy open and regular communication between a manager and team members
• Purposeful work and aligned values between business and team
• Environment positioned for growth with tools and resources in place
• Regular check-in and feedback loops.

So look around. Are you or your team members in a position to thrive? As a leader, have you created the conditions for this? Good pay, healthy work environment and conditions, a mentally and physically safe space, tools and resources at the ready, and a community of support??

Next time, on Leading Naturally - Thriving - and what it looks like in action.

Do you need support because you are not in the condition to thrive? Contact me at [email protected] to discuss coaching or consulting options or, for those women leaders reading this newsletter, join me for a four-part Strategy for Women Executive Leaders (SWEL) Workshop this summer.

#leadership #leadingnaturally #peopleleadership