Dead plants

At work lately, I've been feeling like that dead office plant.  You know the one in the corner that is all wilted and dried up.

It's way too easy to feel malnurished  and deflated.  For a plant it's the lack of water and sunshine, for people it's the lack of encouragement and motivation.

I love buying plants.  I love when they are so full and green.  However I'm not great at keeping them that way.  I recently read a check list on how to grow healthy plants.

1. Know you plants.

2. Make sure the containers or pots are big enough.
3. Provide the right amount of sunshine.
4. Water them only as often as needed.
5. Fertilze.
6. Check your plants often.
7. Keep pest away.

Much of that is applied as being a manager...

1. Know your employees.
2. Make sure they are in positions they like and which allow them to grow and flourish.
3.  Encourage and motivate them.
4.  Give them constructive feedback.
5.  Pay them.
6.  Check in with them regularly even if they all seem good.
7. Pull out the weeds around them that hinder and cause them to stop growing.

If more managers recognized they have to be more like a gardener,  I believe people wouldn't wither and burn out.

The problem is most managers don't want to get their hands dirty or put in the work to have healthy beautiful plants (aka workers.)  Or often they decide to start watering and over water through micromanaging.

If you're a manager... Make sure you treat your plants well.