Use gardening metaphors to spot and fix common leadership pitfalls-overshadowing, clutter, single points of failure, and lack of cross-functional diversity-to keep teams focused, healthy, and productive.
Leaders who constantly "save the day" end up eclipsing their teams, creating a shadow where growth stalls. The article shows how stepping back lets engineers step into the light, building ownership and sustainable output.
Clutter in processes and meetings is treated like garden weeds. By scheduling quarterly reviews where the team lists pain points, you can prune unnecessary rituals and simplify workflows, freeing time for real work.
Focusing on a few priorities at a time-like seasonal planting-prevents teams from spreading themselves thin. Short, time-boxed focus periods let initiatives gain momentum before the next batch of work arrives.
Over-reliance on a single person mirrors over-watering a plant and leads to burnout. Identifying these reflex assignments and redistributing work builds resilience, reduces single points of failure, and supports a healthier team culture.
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