Thrive Like A Well-Tended Garden

What Gardening Taught Me About Leadership

I’ll admit it—I never thought gardening would teach me anything about leadership. But after a bit of persuasion from my wife, who had a vision of a flourishing garden in our backyard, I came to realize that there’s a lot more in common between cultivating plants and building a high-performing team than I ever imagined.

It turns out that leadership, like gardening, requires patience, consistency, tough decisions, and the ability to adapt. I've seen growth happen in many unexpected ways by tending to a garden—and to a team—with these principles.

From Garden Skeptic to Leadership Believer

At first, gardening felt like a chore. I envisioned endless weeding and our neighborhood deer treating our crops like an all-you-can-eat buffet. But after we planted a few raised beds and I got my hands dirty, I started to see the connections between nurturing plants and supporting my team. Just as plants need the right conditions, teams need the right environment to thrive.

With time, I learned that leadership often mirrors the care required to grow a garden: patience, nurturing, making tough choices, adapting to change, and celebrating the harvest.

3 Ways to Apply Gardening Principles to Leadership

1. Patience Is Key (Seriously, You Can’t Rush This)
   Just as plants take time to grow, so do people. You can’t rush it, and putting pressure on results before they’re ready only causes frustration.

   • Growth Doesn’t Do Rushed Deadlines: Give your team time to grow, and be patient with the process. Realistic expectations go a long way. 

   • Recognize Small Progress: Sometimes, growth is not as noticeable. Celebrate small wins to keep the momentum going.

   • Practice Patience: Leadership requires patience as a skill. Step back, take a breath, and trust in the timeline, even when it feels longer than you’d like.

2. Nurture for Growth (No Shortcuts Here)
   Just like plants need the right soil, light, and care to thrive, your team needs the right tools, training, and consistent support.

   • Provide Resources Generously: Your team needs the right resources to grow—whether that’s training, mentorship, or just your time.

   • Show Up Consistently: Just as gardens need care every day, your team thrives on consistent leadership. Be present, be supportive, and show up for them regularly.

   • Invest for the Long-Term: One-off motivators won’t cut it. Make long-term investments in your team’s development for lasting results.

3. Pruning for Strength (Yes, This Means Making Hard Choices)
   In gardening, pruning helps plants focus on healthy growth. Sometimes, leadership calls for making tough decisions to remove distractions, inefficiencies, and an unhealthy environment. 

   • Cut What’s Holding You Back: Sometimes, you need to remove what’s not working to make space for growth. This could be unproductive processes, unnecessary tasks, and sometimes even team members.  

   • Focus Energy Where It Matters: Just like pruning redirects energy to the healthiest parts of the plant, focus your team’s energy on the projects that drive real growth.

   • Think of the Bigger Picture: Tough decisions might feel like setbacks, but they’re investments in long-term success.

3 Power Questions to Reflect On:

• What areas of my leadership require more patience, and how can I practice it more consistently?

• Where can I provide more resources or support to help my team grow?

• Are there any tough decisions (or “pruning”) I need to make for the health of the team?

Gardening taught me a lot about leadership, which has translated into practical application for my Credit Union clients. Growth, whether in plants or in people, takes time. But with the right environment, consistent support, and the willingness to make tough decisions, you’ll see your team thrive just like a well-tended garden.

So whether you're cultivating crops or leading a team, remember that growth takes time, patience, and a whole lot of heart.

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