How Does Your Leadership Garden Grow?

Wow, all of this from seeds! From the seed pots to sprout, to the larger pots to prepare for garden transplanting, these seedlings began maturing and blooming. I thought that my work would be done, and my next step would be to pick the bounty the garden produced. Not so fast, my observations revealed.

As the first squash were ready to pick, I noticed what I soon learned to be blossom rot. My research indicated that the soil lacked calcium. Next came the caterpillars, invading little bastards that ate through the leaves and ripening tomatoes. Soon to follow were the famished grasshoppers on the peppers. And, of course, the deer were lurking, stalking, ready to enter the garden and feast through the night should the gate be left open at the end of the day.

I visited the local feedstore for helpful resources to combat these problems. My choice of chalk, lime, or even pulverized eggshells were remedies to replenish the calcium in the soil. Search and destroy the caterpillars by hand was the next required task – not for the squeamish because it was gross to do this.?Finally, spraying Neem oil to keep the insects and all other critters at bay, and keeping the vegetables safe to eat.

I discovered that there were many ways to safeguard the garden and increase their potential for growth potential, in addition to these resources that I bought. The shade of the tomatoes provided relief and increased growth opportunities for the cilantro planted underneath them. I once considered red wasps as threatening pests and the loud frogs as obnoxious nuisances at night. I’ve discovered their value across the eco-system by reaching out to learn more about my needs and finding common ground with their needs as well. The red wasps came in to feed off the caterpillar larvae, and the frogs consider grasshoppers their favorite snack.

So much for thinking my job was to just sit back and relax, admire the garden’s beauty, and collect the bounty, right? So many leadership lessons here. A leader’s work is never done. Selecting top talent, onboarding them successfully into your organization, and providing an environment for successful growth is only the beginning. Your leadership work continues to ensure future growth in your organization. Letting the talent do the work you hired them for and brought them into your organization is critical – get out of their way but be nearby and available to get them what they need when they need it. Even better – get them what they need before they even know they need it.

Observe and praise successful efforts – no matter how small the result – to encourage continued efforts. Everyone needs to feel that their efforts are valued, appreciated, and noticed. Notice the efforts to collaborate and help each other in the team and cross-functionally.

Continue your own learning. Research to learn new ways to do things. Ask others for help. Share what?you’ve learned with your team and encourage them to keep learning, too. New predators and changing environmental conditions will always come our way.

What other lessons has my leadership garden revealed to you? I’d love to hear your insights and learn from you as we continue our leadership journey together!

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About Jill Hickman,?SPHR, SHRM-SCP:

Jill Hickman, President,?Jill Hickman Companies, is an experienced leader equipped to guide leadership development, implementation, and sustainability plans within organizations. Client success stories include creating and launching corporate universities, developing customized leadership curriculum, and providing group and individual coaching for leaders within global organizations as well as small, family businesses. Jill is an honors graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, earning a BA degree in Psychology and a MA in Human Resource Management from the University of Houston – Clear Lake. She is President of National Speakers Association - Houston Chapter and Past President of two other prestigious Houston professional associations (Institute of Management Consultants and Association for Talent Development). She has been honored with the Outstanding Leadership alumni recognition from the University of Houston and named as Houston Business Journal’s top 40 professional women in business, selected for HBJ’s 2018 Mentoring Monday. Remaining an active member and volunteer in these and other professional, community, and service organizations, Jill demonstrates a powerful example of her belief in leadership’s responsibility to give back. She devotes her leisure time to family and friends, enjoys opportunities for travel, and nurtures her gardens whenever she’s home.

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