Be a gardener - Four parallels in people development and leadership

My wife, Kate has embarked on a year long horticulture qualification. Each week, she avidly studies the Latin names for things I don't even know the English name for, telling me our garden requires multiple interventions to make it acceptable!

Of course, I've reached for a pivot for LinkedIn. As I listen (very intently) to what she is learning and applying, my mind wanders to how what she is doing is not dis-similar to what I aim to do in my leadership role: over simplified, it's seeding, planting, pruning and maintenance.

Indulge me:

Seeding - One of my focuses is to develop new leaders for our business. I have some mature plants (!), newer growths but I also need the leaders of 2030 well on the way at some point. The seeds. These are people we identify early who demonstrate our values and show crazy enthusiasm for new things. I'd like to think all the seeds come through but, as Kate will tell me, that won't happen but they will get the care needed to give them the best chance possible.

Planting - Placing the right people in the right place is critical if we are to be successful. Ideally, a leader wants their very best people on their most important areas. That can require moving people so they are in 'the sun', it definitely requires staying up to date with what's out there beyond our business - new talent to enhance our team ('garden'). A place full of all new plants tends to look and feel strange so the right blend of existing experience and brilliant new hires is the goal. At Kynetec, I am trying to find that balance as I work through my first year, some very targeted planting can make or break a goal.

Pruning - Even I know that for many plants to flourish, there has to be a positive regime of pruning. The most direct kind is where people leave the business. To keep with the theme - you have to know when it's time to change, not just due to the 'condition' of the plant but, more often, when your aims change and you need to make room for seeding/planting. As with the garden, pruning can be scary and it takes courage but, done in the right way and with care, it pays dividends. On a more micro level..taking a few snips from people who need to be freed from inherited tasks or thinking also counts for a lot.

Maintenance - Yes, the boring but essential tasks are saved for last. In the garden, weeding, edging, mowing. trimming, clearing, sharpening tools rarely attracts the attention of the 'Chelsea Flower show' but, without them, you're done. Maintenance as a leader is through regular one on ones, skill development, coaching, keeping goals relevant and providing feedback on progress. None of the above will show progress without this.

Like gardens, it's a 24/7 requirement. In our team, we have just completed talent reviews to help us identify some of the elements I share above - this gives us a bit of a playbook to work by until we review again in the Summer. In the meantime, I'll avoid giving Latin names to the team and keep trying to get my hands dirty, whilst shaping a vision for a beautiful garden!

Thanks for reading.