Hi, Eileen:

Appreciate the emphasis on growing things in this very seasonal post, as we all start to venture outdoors and enjoy the spring, with or without planting flowers.

I really enjoyed this analogy ... connecting how we lead and manage to how we grow beautiful flowers (or in my case, try to to kill them too quickly) is both powerful imagery and very well stated.

I could add that, in my experience, some folks seem to have a "green thumb" where knowing how and when to nurture and influence others comes more easily to them, at least on the surface.  I would guess it is like many other things in life ... when you pay close attention to what works, it gets easier.

When I read your point about feeding different plants differently, I was reminded of my last venture into gardening ... growing wildflowers in a plot by our front door.  When you plant wildflowers, you get a dizzying array of colors, shapes, sizes, and needs.   While the variety can be breathtaking, keeping all the plants healthy can be a challenge ... until you remember that they thrive in a meadow without any human help whatsoever.

I think some workplaces can be like the meadow, which means to me that the best leadership may be that done with a very light touch, just to help things along a little:).

Anyway, you have me dreaming of warm summer breezes and colorful flowers lapping up the sunshine:) ...

John