Growing Leadership from the Inside Out
Leadership is not just a title; it’s a practice.
And just like a garden, it needs care, patience, and intentional tending to flourish truly.
As we step into October, I invite you to join me in examining leadership through a new lens: one that grows from the inside out, beginning with how we care for ourselves and those around us.
🌿 What It Really Means to Grow Leadership
Growing leadership from the inside out means focusing less on hierarchy and more on healthy roots:
Wellness: Making sure leaders and staff are not running on empty.
Connection: Building trust and communication so teams feel secure in contributing.
Empowerment: Encouraging staff to share ideas and lead in ways that match their strengths.
When leaders invest in these roots, the entire team becomes stronger, just like a plant that grows taller and healthier when its soil is rich and its roots are deep.
🌸 Lessons from the Garden
Our Garden Series earlier this year reminded us of three simple but powerful truths:
Growth Takes Time:
Gardens don’t bloom overnight — and neither do teams. Actual growth happens through small, consistent actions over time.Each Plant Needs Different Care:
Just as some plants need more sun and others thrive in shade, every team member has unique needs and strengths. Leadership means noticing those differences and supporting them well.Healthy Soil Grows Healthy Blooms:
Soil is the foundation for growth. In leadership, staff well-being is the soil. When it’s cared for, creativity, collaboration, and productivity naturally thrive.
🌟 3 Ways to Start Growing Leadership
1. Start with Listening
Good leadership begins by making space to hear the voices of your team.
Try this: Open your next staff meeting with a question like:
“What’s one small thing that would make your day smoother?”
Listening not only surfaces good ideas, but it also shows your team they are valued.
2. Celebrate the Small Wins
Big goals are important, but so is noticing the everyday progress that leads there.
Try this: Create a Joy Jar where staff can write gratitude notes or shout-outs. Read them aloud at your next team meeting, and you’ll be amazed at how it lifts the room’s energy.
Celebrating small wins builds momentum and keeps motivation alive.
3. Model Calm and Connection
Your team will mirror what you model. When you lead with calm, reflection, and presence, you give them permission to slow down and reset, too.
Try this: Begin your next meeting with a 60-second breathing exercise or a silent reflection.
Even this tiny pause can completely shift the tone of the conversation that follows.
🌼 Your Invitation for October
This month, I’ll be sharing resources, reflections, and practices that help you nurture staff-led leadership, leadership that isn’t just about doing more, but about creating space for growth, trust, and collaboration.
Together, we’ll explore how to:
Build a culture of wellness at work
Give staff a meaningful voice in decision-making
Create systems that allow calm and connection to flourish
Because strong leadership doesn’t just happen, it grows. And when it grows from the inside out, it lasts.
📥 Take the Next Step
If you haven’t already, download your free resource:
15 Wellness Quick Tips + 3 Bonus Tools
8 Small Calm Rituals for Leaders
Use these strategies as your starting point; they’re perfect for grounding yourself and your team as you begin this season of growth.
