If people are like gardens, what does that make the leader?

​Colleagues,
 
All of the outdoor analogies from the past two weeks seem to have resonated with people. This has got me thinking about leadership from a gardening perspective. If people are like gardens, then the leader is like a gardener.
 
Gardeners do a number of things to care for gardens and this week we’ll look at seven of them.
 
The first step in gardening is to evaluate the space. Not all things will grow in all places, so assessing sunlight, positioning, soil conditions and other things are integral. Basically, getting to know your garden is the first step towards helping it flourish.
 
People are the same way. I’ve seen leaders come in and immediately begin trying to remake or change people without understanding who those people are. If you are serious about leading, a core component of which is serving and growing people, you must get to know them.
 
What do you need to know?

1. Capacities, strengths, and weaknesses
2. Aspirations
3. Motivations
4. History, hurts, and hopes
5. Some aspects of their personal lives (assuming they are open to it)

 
Evaluating a garden takes time. A space that looks perfect in the spring may not get enough sun in the summer or be too exposed in the winter. It is similar with people. We all have our own “seasons” and we behave differently and have unique capacities and challenges in each one.
 
You can get a lot out of this series by doing these things today:

• Identify some specific people you would like to help grow
• Take inventory of what you know about them
• Identify your next steps for learning more

 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick