Leadership Lesson from the Backyard

 

Leadership Lesson from the Backyard

A large corporation invited a Zen monk to give a talk to their team of managers on the critical topic of leadership. Eager to better understand the work environment, the monk took the opportunity to explore the premises and ventured into the backyard. To his dismay, he found a muddy area cluttered with old furniture and various discarded items unceremoniously dumped there over time.

When it was time for the monk to address the gathered managers, he opened with a thought-provoking question: “How many of you have spent time in your backyard?” To his surprise, only one individual raised his hand, and he happened to be a housekeeping team member. Intrigued, the monk inquired further, asking why no one else had visited that part of the property. One manager reluctantly responded, explaining that nothing was interesting to see there; it was considered unsafe due to the accumulated waste.

Undeterred, the monk asked, “If there were a beautiful garden in that same backyard, how many of you would be inclined to visit it?” This time, many hands shot up enthusiastically, and one manager said, “It would be soothing to see the flowers, and a lovely garden would provide a peaceful place to relax after a long, tiring day at work.”

The monk, grateful for their engaging responses, began his lecture by drawing a compelling analogy. He described the backyard as analogous to a patch of muddy soil—every type of soil possesses the inherent ability to nurture growth, even if it appears uninviting initially. "In the same way," he explained, "every human being is like this soil. Each person has the potential to achieve something meaningful, just waiting to be cultivated.”

He continued, “Often, we overlook the people working under us and fail to nurture their talents effectively. Consequently, they can lose focus and motivation due to a lack of guidance. Over time, their mindset may become negative, mirroring the junk that fills the neglected backyard. As you mentioned, the backyard does not attract your interest; likewise, you may neglect to invest time developing your subordinates, opting for criticism and conflict instead."

The monk emphasized the importance of understanding each individual's unique attributes. “When you take the time to understand and nurture your team members,” he said, “they can transform into a blossoming garden. It becomes a place to sit back, appreciate their growth, and celebrate their successes.”

As he concluded his speech, many managers within the audience began to nod in agreement, acknowledging the profound nature of the monk's message. They applauded him for the insightful analogy he had provided. The monk wrapped up by delivering one final piece of advice: “Always strive to keep your backyard clean, for that is where infection begins. Similarly, if you neglect to care for your subordinates, demotivation originates, and it can spread like an unwelcome weed, stifling potential and growth.”

M.L. Narendra Kumar