Craig T. Owens

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Here in West Michigan, the city of Holland has a yearly festival that has just begun called Tulip Time where attendees will see millions of the most beautiful flowers growing everywhere. It is a stunning display, but perhaps even more impressive is the hard work and care that goes into the cultivation of these flowers. In today’s episode, Greg and I want to encourage you to bring the mindset of a gardener to your leadership. With hard work, patience, and just the right amount of careful pruning, your team will grow from small seeds in the ground to a dazzling beauty that rivals any horticultural display. 

• [0:40] I’m not sure I’m qualified to talk about today’s topic… 
• [1:32] A seed has almost everything it needs to grow, and so do our teammates.
• [3:13] What do people need most from a gardener-leader?
• [5:25] Leaders will need to exhibit confidence in a teammate’s competency.
• [8:04] We need to be careful of not rushing the process.
• [10:16] I share how the apostle Paul demonstrated belief in his people.
• [12:04] How do we make sure our teammates know we have genuine belief in them?
• [14:33] I reference a great passage from Greg’s forthcoming book about how leaders stand up for their team.
• [19:13] A healthy habit for gardener-leaders.
• [21:36] Gardening isn’t an assembly line—the growth plan for every person must be individualized.
• [23:44] Greg shares an insightful quote about obstacles.
• [25:11] Coaching can help you help your teammates grow.

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