I love gardening. I credit my mom with my love of flowers. Growing up, my family’s northwest Minnesota farmyard was filled with flowers. In fact, every year, her gardens got bigger and more elaborate. I’ve followed in her footsteps. Recently, I spent several days planting flowers, digging out old tree roots, and moving plants to make my gardens look lusher and more organized. As I was digging, I thought, “gardening is much like leadership.”
The Veteran Flowers
The hostas have been in my garden for years, having been tended to from their first planting. Now, they are hardy and take minimal maintenance to grow and blossom. Depending on the variety, some might be 5 feet across at their prime during the summer.
The Seedlings
Then there are the plants that are new to the garden. I cut out a chunk of a thriving hosta and moved it elsewhere to give a lily a place that provided more sun. I noticed that a hydrangea wasn’t in the right place, so I moved that to where it could also flourish. I purchased an annual at the local greenhouse to provide vibrant color to the garden. It requires fertilizer, water, and care. It, too, needs to be nurtured.
The Parallels
As is the case with gardening, leadership requires knowing where each staff member will thrive. They don’t just grow as employees on their own. They require development and an environment where they can grow.
Additionally, like gardening, leadership is about creating a better future. I add new plants to the garden to continue to make it grow. I do the same with staff in my practice, so we can continue to best serve patients.
Back on the Farm
Many years ago, on a cool September morning, my dad planted a tree on our farm. He told me he was planting it to honor the wedding of an older cousin set to take place that day, though he knew he would never live long enough to see it provide shade.
An old Greek proverb reads, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”
Translated, this means that one who takes an action that will not benefit them, but rather future generations, is setting that generation up for success.
I helped my mom plant many flowers over the years—many of which are perennials. She gave me several that ultimately came from clippings from her father, my grandfather, another avid gardener who passed away before I got the chance to meet him. They still bloom today.
Carrying on the Growth
Ultimately, we sold the 5 acres of my family farm to a new family. They’ve done different things to the yard to make it their own over the years, but the plants remain. Recently, I drove past my old home. That tree my Dad planted a long time ago stood in the corner of the yard. Still standing. Still thriving. Still growing. Still leading. It silently told a story of leadership over the years. If my dad could hear me now, I’d say to him, “I get it now. Thanks for the shade.” OM
