The Surprising Business Insights Sprouting from My Gardening Hobby
Shashikant Singhania
Delivery Head | IT Infrastructure & Program Leader | Data Center Management Expert | Azure Cloud | Network Operation Centre Management | New Operations Centre Set up | Risk Management I
I have come to realize that inspiration can blossom from unexpected places. One such wellspring of wisdom for me has been my hobby of gardening. While it may appear unrelated at first glance, the remarkable parallels between tending to a garden and nurturing a business have enriched my understanding of effective leadership and team management.
Allow me to cultivate these insights and share them with you:
1?. Seeding / Initial plant selection: Just as we carefully handpick healthy and vibrant plants to start our garden, building a successful team requires meticulous selection. Conducting thorough background verifications, verifying experiences, and assessing performance beyond academic or day-to-day accomplishments is essential. We sow the seeds of success by laying a strong foundation with the right individuals.
?Constant Care: Ploughing and loosening of Soil: Once our team is established, it requires continual nurturing. Similar to how we plough and loosen the soil to encourage optimal root growth, our teams thrive when we provide ongoing support,?and ample room for them to flourish.
2?. Fertilizer: Cultivating growth and rewards: Just as fertilizer nourishes and fortifies plants, periodic boosts and rewards are essential for motivating our teams. Recognizing their achievements and offering incentives can have a transformative impact on their morale and productivity. Investing in their personal and professional growth yields bountiful returns in the quality of their work.
3? Pest / Pesticide: Eradicating arrogance and nurturing excellence: Arrogance, overconfidence, and missed deadlines can infiltrate our teams like pests in a garden. It is crucial to devote time to each team member, comprehend their performance, and provide constructive feedback to foster improvement. While it may seem akin to micromanagement initially, this attention to detail is paramount in the early stages. If persistent issues persist despite feedback, making tough decisions becomes necessary to maintain a healthy work environment.
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4?. Pruning and Grafting: Just as we prune weak branches to stimulate plant growth, periodic evaluations of team members are indispensable. Those who underperform or fail to align with the current environment should be thoughtfully transitioned out, while high performers deserve opportunities and challenges that push their boundaries and need to be moved to different challenging projects to act as leaders in those projects like grafting. This pruning and grafting process ensures a vibrant and resilient team that continues flourishing.
6?. Harvesting: Reaping the fruits of excellence: Ultimately, a balanced and harmonious team that values and supports one another will yield exceptional results. Just as a bountiful harvest is a reward for nurturing and maintaining a flourishing garden, a cohesive team consistently delivers outstanding outcomes.
My gardening hobby has given me invaluable insights into effective team management and leadership. By embracing the principles, we can cultivate a thriving organizational ecosystem.
Let us draw inspiration from nature's wisdom and witness our businesses bloom and flourish.
PMP, ITIL, Service Management , Service Delivery
1 年Good read Shashi Ji, it's like a guide for high performing team culture
Great read!
Senior Manager - BCM, Risk and Resilience @ Sandoz
1 年Shashi ji, Super post and amazing parallels ..
Service Delivery Director at HCLTech (Life Sciences and Healthcare)
1 年Good thinking and we also need to consider the environment in which the “Gardening” Is happening ??