Photo: NALP
Who doesn’t struggle to lead a company with all the pressures that come with it? There’s never enough time to accomplish what you want in a day. So, how do landscape industry executives run their companies under pressure?
Steve Bromell, CEO of Pro Cutters Lawnscapes, Inc.; Jennifer Jorge, COO of King GREEN; Roscoe Klausing, president and CEO of Klausing Group, Inc.; and Tim Portland, chairman and CEO of Yellowstone Landscape, shared their strategies during a panel at Leaders Forum held Feb. 1-4 in Maui.
Lead by Example
For Jorge being out in front and leading by example is central to good leadership. Working for the family business gave her the opportunity to work in all divisions of the company, including in the field, allowing her to lead from a place of deep understanding and connection to all aspects of the business.
Set Boundaries
For many people, setting boundaries is essential to finding balance. It’s especially important for leaders who work in a family business, which is especially common in the landscape industry. Jorge received valuable advice from a mentor who told her to pick a spot, preferably a bridge, on the drive home from work and each day when you get to that spot to “leave your work at the bridge,” and when you pass it, focus on your personal life and your family.
Have a Support System
Being grounded and centered is an integral part of mature leadership, and for Klausing that means making time for meditation at the beginning of each day. For Jorge, support comes from a trusted group of friends and colleagues who act as a compass, celebrate wins, and help her through tough times.
Embrace the Challenges
Leading a large company means dealing with problems and curveballs every day, but for Portland it’s important to remind yourself that that is what you are good at – that’s why you are where you are. So instead of letting those challenges drag you down, you owe it to your team to tackle the problems and celebrate the wins with your whole team.
Measure Success in People
For many leaders, success is measured in more than just spreadsheets. Klausing has drawn inspiration from industry stalwart Rod Bailey, who along with his wife, would take stock at the end of the year: not in revenue their company generated but in the number of employees who got married, had children, or bought a home, because that was a measure of how happy their employees were and in turn a measure of how successful the company was.
“Giving flowers to people while they are alive” is a core philosophy behind how the Bromells run their business. They live that philosophy daily by being champions and support systems for their employees, employing a Chief Prayer Officer (CPO) to offer the ultimate daily inspiration to employees.
Want a dose of inspiration? Then, join us at next year’s Leaders Forum at the Conrad Punta de Mita, Mexico, on Jan. 17-20, 2024.
