GROW – Simple concept that all landscape professionals encounter. We grow plants; we grow as individuals; we grow our teams and companies. 

At my company, Allied Landscape, our team adopted the word GROW as one of four core values with a commitment to being a “Learning Organization” as a primary strategy to grow our company. One of my industry mentors recently reminded me just how important and strategic this concept is and I hope the quick overview below might help you.

A “Learning Organization,” is one that encourages and facilitates learning at all levels, from individual employees to entire teams and departments. It’s about cultivating an environment where curiosity, innovation, and improvement are not just encouraged but part of company culture.

Peter Senge popularized the concept in his book “The Fifth Discipline,” and revolve around five key disciplines:

Systems Thinking – This discipline emphasizes the interconnectedness of various elements within an organization and how different parts of the organization impact each other. I find this can be a company’s biggest weaknesses and source of frustration – not having the right support or “hand-offs” are critical.

Personal Mastery – Team members need to continually develop their skills, knowledge, and abilities to reach their full potential.

Mental Models – Team members throughout the company need to be self-aware and work together to challenge bias driven assumptions in order to embrace new perspectives.

Building Shared Vision – In a learning organization, leaders work collaboratively to create and communicate a compelling vision that aligns everyone and serves as a guiding force for decision-making and action.

Team Learning – Teams must engage in open dialogue, share knowledge and experiences, and collaborate towards collective goals.

Adopting the concepts of a learning organization will provide your company:

Adaptability & Resilience – The landscape industry in the San Francisco Bay Area is competitive and has a rapidly changing environment. Companies need to be agile and adaptable to stay ahead of the curve and navigate challenges.

Innovation – Continuous learning & improvement fosters a culture of innovation, where new ideas are encouraged, and experimentation is embraced to “raise the bar” of the industry

Employee Engagement – When employees are given opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to a shared vision, they are more engaged and motivated. This leads to higher job satisfaction, retention, and performance.

The CLCA East Bay Chapter is working hard to provide meaningful trainings and networking opportunities, and I encourage you to find the time to invest in yourself or your team members by participating. Our next event will April 26. Hope to see you there.