TOMATOES, CLIENTS AND TEAM-MATES
I’ve had a great year growing things in the garden. I mean just look at the photo.
We’ve been eating tomatoes, mangetout peas, onions, garlic, runner beans, courgettes, peppers, potatoes, cucumbers. I could go on. And on.
All down to my skill clearly. Knowing when and where to sow the seeds, when to water, when to transplant, when to thin out, when to cut back. It’s not straightforward this being a gardener you know.
And then there’s the clients I’ve worked with this year. They’ve prospered too. Made some tough decisions, made some life decisions, gone on to even greater things, driven their organisations to even greater heights.
Again all down to me.
What’s that you say? My clients are just like tomatoes. How’s that then?
Aha. Right.
All I’ve done is to create the environment for the tomatoes to grow. They always had the potential within them to be great tomatoes. But they did need somebody to help them realise that potential, by putting them in the best place for them and then nurturing them.
And my clients? Same thing then? They too have the potential within them to flourish, but sometimes they also need a little tending to help that come out.
And that’s all I do? Whether as a gardener as a coach. I work with what’s already there, and help it to be fruitful?
Hmmm. Probably true. Fair point.
I guess the same probably applies to all good leaders and managers then?
That job would be about working out the best place for team members to flourish, and then with a little tending now and again, to get out of the way and let that happen. A bit of watering here and there clearly helps, but they too have the seeds of their potential within them.
Teachers and parents anybody? Development and charity workers?
Modesty clearly needed it would seem. Gardeners, coaches, leaders, managers, teachers, parents, development and charity workers. Anyone involved in helping people (and plants) to realise their full potential.
Modesty coupled with gratitude for the raw materials we are given to work with.
But the real work of growing and bearing fruit?
That would be done by the tomatoes. And the humans.