Cultivating Excellence: Leadership as Gardening

I’ve been studying Voltaire in the recent weeks and I was specifically drawn to his idea that we should cultivate our own personal gardens. It reminds me of listening to an old Janet Jackson record where she said, “you have to learn to water your spiritual garden” and where BeBe & CeCe Winans told us in gospel to go back to the garden where our souls first met.

Let me tell you a quick story…and trust me on this one.

The Tale of the Master Gardener

In a small Lana Del Rey-esque town, there lived a master gardener known for cultivating the most extraordinary garden far and wide. One day, he gave each of his three apprentices—a plot of land. "To you, my trusted apprentices, I entrust these plots. Nurture them, and let us see what wonders you can grow," he declared, his eyes twinkling with the light of challenge and opportunity.

The first apprentice, diligent and mindful, cultivated a vibrant garden, full of colors and scents that delighted the senses. The second, innovative and bold, grew rare plants that drew curious minds from all corners. The third, however, neglected his plot, leaving it barren.

Upon reviewing their efforts, the master gardener proclaimed, "Well done to those who have realized the potential bestowed upon them. You have not only enriched yourselves but also enhanced our community. You, who neglected the opportunity, have lost not only the fruits you could have borne but also the chance to excel." Jesus would have called the last gardener slothful (but I digress).

Like gardening, leadership involves nurturing, patience, and a vision to see the potential in every seed—principles well understood by the wise and the builders of society. Our opportunities to be leaders are divine gifts…that we must water.

Celebrating a Modern Servant Leader: Father Greg Boyle

Father Greg Boyle, a modern mystic, one of my personal heroes, and founder of Homeboy Industries , has recently been honored for his relentless commitment to transforming lives. His work with former gang members and incarcerated individuals exemplifies the very essence of nurturing leadership.

I first met Father Greg (or G) early in my leadership journey and I was impressed 20 years ago with his selflessness in building Homeboy Industries from the ground up. There was a light in him that I recognized and that I followed into servant leadership. Like a skilled gardener tending to overlooked plots, Father Boyle has cultivated hope and redemption in the most desolate of soils, demonstrating that every individual has the potential to bloom beautifully if only given the right care and opportunity.

As a leader, I reflect upon the gardens I've tended—communities, teams, and organizations—and how, through patience and faith, we've seen many a winter turn to spring. This journey, much like the meticulous care of our predecessors, requires vision, faith, and an unyielding commitment to the growth of others.

Congratulations, Father, on receiving a well-deserved Presidential Medal of Freedom and the honor of May 19th being forever known in Los Angeles as Father Greg Boyle Day. Bravissimo!

Leadership Lessons: Growing Together

Just as a garden thrives on diversity—various plants contributing different colors, textures, and strengths—so does a community or organization. Our role as leaders is akin to that of the master gardener, cultivating an environment where every individual has the room and the resources to grow. Here are a few ways you can water your gardens in the work you do:

• Encourage Exploration and Creativity: Allow team members the freedom to explore and take ownership of new projects, much like choosing which seeds to plant. This creates synergy and buy-in from your most precious resources—your employees.
• Provide Resources and Support: Just as plants need water and light, ensure that your team has access to the tools and support they need to thrive. I provide my teams with ample training and professional development, even in the form of bi-weekly talks or training opportunities, so they can fertilize their work.
• Celebrate Growth and Learning: Recognize and celebrate the milestones in your team's development, no matter how small they may seem. Uplifting people who are working to help you actualize a mission is essential to maintaining harmony and encouraging your harvest to be as full as possible.

As leaders, let us take heart from the master gardener's wisdom. By investing in the potential of our plots and people, we foster a community rich in diversity, strength, and beauty. Let us be diligent, innovative, and most of all, nurturing, to cultivate a world that reflects the best of our collective efforts.

Let us lead with the foresight of the master gardener, with the compassion of Father Greg Boyle, and with the determination of those who build more than just buildings but societies of lasting beauty and worth. Surely you will hear, well done, thou good and faithful servant.

We must continue to cultivate excellence in all our endeavors... in the gardens we plant, nurture, grow, and lead.

?

Be Healed.

?

Dr. Golden