Over the past couple of weeks my yard has exploded. The grass is growing, the bushes are blooming, and the weeds are out of control. It all means one thing . . . “Yard Work!”
In his book, Necessary Endings, Dr. Henry Cloud talks about the importance of pruning. He points out that rosebushes produce more buds than the plants can support. A caretaker is needed. The caretaker prunes the bushes cutting away many of the buds.
Cloud writes, “The plant has enough life and resources to feed and nurture only so many buds to their full potential; it can’t bring all of them to full bloom.”
When the caretaker prunes the bad buds he puts an end to the rosebush having to divert resources. Cloud goes on, “In pruning the gardener frees needed resources so the plant can redirect them to the buds with the greatest potential to become mature roses. Those buds get the best that the bush has to offer, and they thrive and grow to fullness” . . . “Without the endings,” Clouds says, “you don’t get the best roses.”
When it comes to your leadership are there some places where you need to prune? Maybe a good exercise would be to forget about your “to do” list and instead focus on a “don’t do” list?
I suspect there are some places where your focus and your resources are being diverted in some unhealthy directions and you are feeling spread too thin. If that is the case, it is time to do some cutting. It is time for some “yard work.”
You will never see something new unless you are willing to let go of something old. Don’t be afraid to prune. Sometimes the endings are necessary.
i2i,
Randy
Why do you think it is so hard for a leader to let go of outdated practices?
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