Workforce Development
Well, all I can say is if they don’t deliver don’t blame the plant, look at the manager first.
So to help you with the gardening metaphor, read through and ponder on the following.
A Gardeners “style or type” is based on the nurturing of each plant balanced with completing tasks to achieve a result or yield. This relates quite nicely with Douglas McGregor’s theory X and Y.
You can’t just shout at plants and expect them to grow! People have to feel that you understand their individual needs and you are there to support them with some empathy.
You can’t neglect your plants and expect them to thrive. Some people are more “hardy” than others but everyone needs security, contact and communication.
Gardeners develop the skills and knowledge required to be successful. They invest time and energy in their self-development as should managers with their Continuous Professional Development.
Gardeners accept that mistakes will be made but will learn from them for next time. Managers should do the same. Next time is an opportunity to get it right.
Gardeners understand that all plants are different and have differing needs. Different plants have different personalities like people and the secret to success is managing the differences well.
Gardeners use the right tools at the right time and in the right way. Managers also have many tools and resources to make their jobs easier but it is shocking to see them not used or used incorrectly.
Gardeners are not afraid to deal with underperformance and managers should not hesitate to deal in the same way once every effort has been tried to get performance back on track. Just face up to the fact that some people will not perform well in your garden.
Gardeners like to show off their success stories and prize winning vegetables and managers should also seize every opportunity to show off their high yielding people.
Gardeners prevent or get rid of slugs and pests at the earliest opportunity. For managers this means spotting and removing anything that will get in the way of your people blooming.
Gardeners prepare the soil, climate and surroundings to give each plant the best chance to do well. Managers also need to consider the culture and climate they create and influence in the workplace. Does it help or hinder people to grow? I often describe a company induction as the time a plant would spend in the perfect climate of a greenhouse before being planted in the big garden.
Gardeners lay paths for direction and to create a sense of order, a manager should also provide clear direction and establish the boundaries that create a safe and consistent way of working.
Gardeners have a succession of plants to replace plants who have wilted, died (or have been stolen). Managers should also consider how they prepare for leavers and promotion.
And finally, gardeners have patience...they don’t expect results overnight!
A natural gardener has “green fingers”…but most of us have to work really hard to get better at it.
A lot of people appreciate a good garden but a lot of people are lacking the will to put the effort in to create it too – some gardeners are better than others and some gardeners should never be gardeners!
People can’t be mass grown and all treated the same way. Garden management is about managing diversity and dealing with new challenges every day.
Jason Stevens is an accomplished Organisation Development Consultant, Coach, Facilitator and owner/founder of Ican Development Ltd and Executive Insight. He has spent the last 18 years charting and defining effective Leadership and Management. His passion for igniting improved personal and business performance through targeted learning and people development.