Digging In the Dirt

It’s Memorial Day weekend and, like many of our neighbors, my wife and I have been planting flowers. It’s an annual ritual, a rite of spring that comes and goes with the rhythms of the season. This year the cooler, wetter weather has postponed the work but, I’m happy to report, the beds are filled with new color, vulnerable seedlings, and the many wooden and metal ornaments that add character to the presentation. This year we have included some new varieties of flowers and gambled on more perennials. The project has ended with tired backs and redder than usual complexions.

Digging in the dirt seems a strange topic for my weekly rumination about leadership but I was struck by the lessons that planting offers. In the next few paragraphs perhaps you will see what I mean.

As someone who grew up on a farm in central Pennsylvania the spring season was an especially hectic time. It seemed we were always negotiating with nature to find just the right blend of warm sunshine and gentle rains so the seeds we sowed would germinate properly. Cultivating leadership is also a matter of timing and requires a proper mix of teaching, mentoring, constructive feedback, and meaningful praise. Many young leaders fail to grow because we neglect to invest in their personal development or do little to encourage them when the opportunity is there.

To plant flowers requires getting your hands dirty – grit underneath the fingernails kind of grubby. Even with a good pair of gloves it is hard to avoid the stains that come from investing this much energy in the moist, brown soil. Developing leaders also involves a deeply personal stake in the outcome. When a mentee or protégé disappoints or fails to deliver as expected sometimes the blame rests squarely with us. Our reputations may be blemished along with theirs, a risk we must take to help others succeed.

Each person we identify for leadership training will be very different. The flowers I planted today aren’t all the same either. Some can thrive in full sun while others must have the protective canopy of shade. The amount of moisture, space needed to grow, and level of pruning differs with each variety. People need this same personalized care. Some leaders need space to be creative; others require privacy to analyze and prepare. Many leaders will do well with minimum coaching or direction; others crave praise or attention so they know how they’re doing. Your job is to pay attention to the nuances and tailor your approach to maximize potential.

As the seasons change again this year, the flowers planted today will take root and be transformed into beautiful palettes of luminosity and fragrance. Any memories of today’s aches and pains will be replaced with pride and amazement as we enjoy God’s bountiful handiwork. Your investment in people also has its rewards. Future managers, senior executives, even potential owners can all be grown from within the organization. By “digging in the dirt” now, you too can enjoy the rewards of a well-placed and well-paced investment in your brightest and best. Happy planting!